Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted that his team’s shocking elimination from the CAF Champions League is a failure, describing the setback as a “big punch in the face” after the defending champions crashed out against Angola’s Wiliete SC on Friday evening.
The Brazilians were held to a 1-1 draw by Wiliete at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, a result that confirmed their premature exit from the continental competition following a goalless draw in the first leg in Angola.
The result ended Sundowns’ hopes of defending their continental crown and represented a major disappointment for a club that has established itself as one of Africa’s leading football forces.
Speaking after the match, Cardoso did not attempt to hide his disappointment, acknowledging that his team had nobody else to blame for the humiliating setback.
The Portuguese tactician admitted that failing to qualify for the group stages, while also surrendering their opportunity to defend the title, amounted to a failure for a club with Sundowns’ ambitions.
For Cardoso, the painful part was that the Brazilians had the opportunity to determine their own destiny but failed to deliver when it mattered most.
He insisted that the responsibility for the elimination rested collectively with the team, stressing that there were no external circumstances that could excuse their disappointing performance.
According to the Sundowns coach, Wiliete offered little in attack, making the Angolan side’s achievement even more frustrating from the South African champions’ perspective.
Rather than finding excuses, Cardoso believes his players must confront their shortcomings and accept responsibility for a campaign that ended far earlier than anticipated.
The elimination is a significant setback for Sundowns, who entered the competition with expectations of challenging for another African crown after winning the CAF Champions League last season.
Their failure to progress beyond the preliminary round will undoubtedly raise questions about their performance, decision-making and ability to deliver under pressure in high-stakes continental encounters.
However, Cardoso has called on the Sundowns family to remain united during this difficult period, urging supporters and players to stand together as the club attempts to recover from the disappointment.
He believes the setback should serve as a painful lesson rather than mark the end of the team’s ambitions for the season.
With domestic competitions still to be contested, the coach remains determined to see his team respond positively and restore confidence among their supporters.
For a club accustomed to competing for the biggest honours in African football, the challenge now is to turn disappointment into motivation and ensure that the Champions League exit does not derail their domestic campaign.
Cardoso’s admission that Sundowns were responsible for their own downfall reflects the magnitude of the disappointment inside the camp.
The Brazilians must now regroup, examine what went wrong and find a way to respond on the pitch.
While the defeat will take time to digest, Cardoso’s message is clear: Sundowns must accept their failure, remain united and work towards coming back stronger.
