Miguel Cardoso on Mamelodi Sundowns Caf Champions League game against ST Eloi Lupopo: It will be a tough game for us but we know what we must do

Mamelodi Sundowns are facing a mammoth task.

The Brazilians are in the lions den this weekend.

Sundowns are in a territory which many teams have failed to win in and yet they are aiming for one.

This is one game many describe as the ‘impossible.’

They are facing Democratic Republic of Congo’s ST Eloi Lupopo in a return game of their Caf Champions League group C match.

Sundowns are second in the group with five points with either MC Alger or Lupopo’s win moving them from the third spot this week.

Al Hilal are on top of the group with eight points following their spirited 2-1 win over Sundowns a week ago today in Rwanda.

Now, Miguel Cardoso’s troops are in Lubumbashi, where Cardoso sees it as a daunting task but said his players know what to do.

“Tough match ahead for sure, tough match, tough team, top attitude demanded, top attitude we’re going to have, fight for the best result possible, so that in the end we can come and be satisfied with the honesty of the work we put inside the pitch and hoping that the consequence of that attitude is a positive result, to get the best chance possible for the last match, that’s how we need to go there and face things,” he said.

‘It’s a very particular pitch, to play there is quite tricky, it’s difficult to play there, it’s difficult. Al Hilal drew, MC Alger lost… so we need to have the mindset to play a game there.

“Remember we played last year against AS Maniema in Congo, different stadium, open stadium – not so close… the fans, the team, the heat and humidity. And against Lupopo there are more factors, crowded packed stadium close to the pitch, brings in emotions.

“We need serious, honest and humble approach, so in the right moments, score the goals we need and bring the best result we can, that’s important.The boys are up for the challenge, they know what they will face and it’s with that expectations we go [to Congo].”

The game starts at 3pm on Sunday.