As Mamelodi Sundowns prepare to take on Williete SC of Angola in Friday's second leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round encounter, head coach Miguel Cardoso has cautioned his players against becoming complacent.

As they continue to defend their continental crown, the Brazilians are aiming to clinch a spot in the group rounds. Though they enter the return match on a high note, Sundowns still have a ways to go before they can celebrate qualifying, according to Cardoso.

As an example of the difficulties Sundowns have had while playing Angolan opponents, the Portuguese coach cited their earlier elimination at the hands of Petro de Luanda. He went on to say that his squad has to have the correct mentality for the match because of Williete's good position in their domestic league and their defensive record.

According to Cardoso, every tournament is important in its own way, but the Champions League has different requirements than local tournaments. He thinks his team has to give it their all in the contest and not act as if they're already qualified.

Selecting a strong starting lineup and figuring out who can assist the Sundowns win the match were other points driven home by the coach. He was certain that his team would not be taking anything for granted in the Champions League and would instead be fighting for a spot in the group stage.

Similarly, Thapelo Morena, the defender, emphasised the significance of Friday's match. He did not deny that the team's performance in Angola was disappointing, but he emphasised that they must move on from that setback and concentrate on the second leg.

Sundowns will be aiming to keep their African championship from last season, thus they'll be looking to put on a good show.

In the meantime, former attacker Lucas Ribeiro's name has surfaced in connection with the club in a different financial issue.

Lucas Ribeiro allegedly requested 24 months from Mamelodi Sundowns to pay the R66 million that the club has sought, citing his inability to raise the whole sum at the moment. It has been stated that the Brazilian attacker was given 45 days by FIFA to pay, with just 24 days left. Rumour has it that Sundowns turned down Ribeiro's plea for extra time. Despite the lack of formal confirmation, the player might face substantial repercussions as a result of this circumstance, including a possible suspension from professional football according to FIFA.

Even though it has nothing to do with Sundowns' Champions League match preparations, the reported conflict is another club-related event. The objective for Cardoso and his team is to advance to the next round by defeating Williete.

Source: IDiskiTimes

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/cardoso-sends-warning-ahead-of-sundowns-williete-decider/