Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso expressed disappointment after his team’s loss to Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League final, admitting his side lacked urgency in crucial moments. The defeat at Cairo’s 30 June Air Defence Stadium on 01 June 2025 saw Pyramids crowned continental champions with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The decisive second leg unfolded with Pyramids taking charge early, as Fiston Mayele scored in the 23rd minute. Ahmed Samy extended their lead in the 56th, putting Sundowns on the back foot.
A late goal by Iqraam Rayners in the 75th minute revived hope for the South African club, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit. Reflecting on the match, Cardoso acknowledged the intensity required at elite levels. “Competing at this stage demands relentless effort,” he told SuperSport, referencing questions about North African teams’ dominance. “They elevate their game for every duel, every challenge.
That’s what separates them.” While Cardoso conceded Sundowns lacked sharpness in critical exchanges, he rejected the notion that Pyramids outplayed his team overall. “We didn’t perform worse than them—both legs showed that. But they disrupted our rhythm and fought relentlessly for every ball,” he said.
The coach emphasized the importance of matching opponents’ physicality and drive, traits he observed in Pyramids’ gameplay. The loss denied Sundowns a second Champions League title, adding to their 2016 triumph.
Cardoso’s remarks highlighted the thin margins in high-stakes competitions, where tactical discipline must align with unwavering determination. Despite the setback, his comments underscored respect for Pyramids’ ability to capitalize on opportunities while exposing areas for improvement within his squad.
Quotes from the press conference retained their original context, with Cardoso reiterating, “I felt something was missing on our part,” a candid admission of the team’s incomplete execution. The result solidified Pyramids’ rise in African football, marking their first Champions League victory amid a heavily contested final series
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