Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso wins another award

As was the case in February, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is the Premier Soccer League’s Coach of the Month after four wins in four matches during March.

Kabo Yellow put together a solid run started on 1 March with a 3–1 victory over Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium, where Marcelo Allende, Monnapule Saleng and Iqraam Rayners got on the scoresheet.

THREE MORE WINS

Sundowns followed that up with a 2–1 win against Golden Arrows at Loftus Versfeld on 4 March, with Teboho Mokoena opening the scoring.

They then travelled to Olympia Park and beat Orbit College FC 2–0 on 10 March, before closing the month with a 3–1 home win over Marumo Gallants on 17 March.

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MIGUEL CARDOSO AT MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

The former Benfica and Esperance coach has already marked 71 matches since joining Masandawana in December 2024. He has picked up 45 wins, 15 draws and 11 defeats.

137 goals have been scored while conceding only 58, with the 2024/25 Betway Premiership title exising as his only trophy at Sundowns.

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The current season sees Kabo Yellow a point behind leaders Orlando Pirates with one game in hand. The Buccaneers have eight games left before the end of the season, while Sundowns have nine.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE CARDS

Sundowns also remain in the running to lift their second CAF Champions League title since 2016. They beat Stade Malie 3-2 over two legs to set up two semifinals legs against Cardoso’s former team Esperance. The second semis clash will be an all-Moroccan affair between AS FAR and RS Berkane.

The first leg will be on the weekend of 10-11 April before the second leg in Tshwane the following week.

Last season Sundowns reached the final season but fell just short against Egypt’s Pyramids FC. The first leg took place at Loftus Versfeld on 24 May 2025, where Sundowns were held to a 1–1 draw by Pyramids. Lucas Ribeiro gave the Brazilians the lead in the 54th minute, but Walid El Karti’s 94th-minute header ensured the visitors left with a valuable away goal.

In the second leg on 1 June 2025 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Pyramids secured a 2–1 win. Fiston Mayele opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Ahmed Samy added a second early in the second half. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back in the 75th minute, but Sundowns were unable to find the equaliser they needed to progress on away goals.

DO YOU EXPECT SUNDOWNS TO WIN THIS SEASON’S CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?

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Also read: 10-man Sundowns progress to CAF Champions League semis

The focus may be on the current FIFA international break, but Mamelodi Sundowns legend Mike Ntombela believes this is the year Miguel Cardoso must deliver the CAF Champions League at Chloorkop.

It has been 10 years since the Brazilians secured their maiden Champions League title under former coach Pitso Mosimane, who was assisted by Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena.

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Last season marked the closest Sundowns have come to ending the drought, but they were edged in a two-legged final by Pyramids FC of Egypt.

Cardoso ‘not’ in Mosimane, Mokwena level

Speaking on Radio 2000, Ntombela reckons this could be the season they finally capture that elusive second continental title.

“You know, a coach must play this thing maybe twice to win it. If you look at Rulani (Mokoena) he didn’t make it the first time but he was going to win it the second time and I can guarantee you that,” he said.

“Now, we nearly made a blunder (sacking rumours) with Cardoso. He’s a good coach but not in the level of Pitso Mosimane and Rulani. He has a second opportunity now and he has to win it. I think the coach must understand this level first to be able to win it.”

Sundowns have bounced back strongly after a wobbly start to the Betway Premiership season and remain firmly in the running to defend their league title. Ntombela highlighted what he believes was the turning point for Sundowns as they target a strong finish to the campaign.

‘It was a mistake’

The Tshwane giants have also qualified for the CAF Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Cardoso’s former side, Espérance.

“The coach was trying to do a lot of things too and trying to play a lot of youngsters into the team. He was trying to give game time which was great,” he added.

“But fans were saying we want to win and why was he experimenting. I would think that the office must have spoken to him because you can see [Kutlwano] Letlhaku and [Thato] Sibiya have gone back to the DDC.

“It was a mistake but I understand why he was doing it. At one point, it looked like Cardoso was going but the chairman was very strong to say we’re focusing on the league and the champions league.”

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Sundowns have seven players in the Bafana Bafana squad set to face the Panama national football team in two friendlies, and Cardoso will be hoping they return without any injury concerns.

Le tournoi de l’Union nord-africaine de football (UNAF) U-17, qui se déroule en ce moment à Benghazi, en Libye, verra la sélection algérienne affronter son homologue marocaine, pour ce qui sera un sommet et un match décisif pour la suite de la compétition.

Il faut remonter au mois de janvier 2021 pour assister à la qualification de la sélection nationale des moins de 17 ans, sous la conduite à l’époque de Mohamed Lacete, à une phase finale de la Coupe d’Afrique des nations. Malheureusement, cette édition 2021 a été annulée en raison de la pandémie de la Covid-19.

Après avoir raté la qualification lors des deux dernières éditions, les cadets voudraient arracher leur billet pour la prochaine édition, surtout après des débuts prometteurs et cette large victoire face à la Libye (5 – 1).

Ce vendredi, les poulains d’Amine Ghimouz croiseront le chemin d’une des sélections favorites de ce tournoi UNAF qualificatif pour la CAN-2026, en l’occurrence le Maroc, et détentrice du trophée continental l’année dernière.

Un match qui promet énormément vu que les Lionceaux de l’Atlas ont également gagné leur match, c’était face à la Tunisie (2 – 0) lors de la 1^e journée, disputée mardi.

Au lendemain de leur franc succès, les coéquipiers du meilleur buteur, Mouhammad Valmy, auteur d’un doublé et désigné joueur du match, ont repris le chemin des entraînements.

Le staff technique a scindé l’effectif en deux groupes, avec d’un côté les titulaires qui se sont adonnés à des exercices de récupération, et de l’autre le reste du groupe qui a suivi une séance assez légère.

Le groupe a repris en totalité ce jeudi pour une séance complète et une mise en place tactique en prévision de la confrontation de demain, vendredi 27 mars au Military Union Stadium de Benghazi (15h00).

L’article Algérie – Maroc : Et déjà un test décisif pour les cadets ! est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.

The Stormers are bracing for a monster scrum battle when they welcome Edinburgh to the Cape Town Stadium for their United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter on Saturday evening.

Edinburgh, who are smarting after a heavy 54-17 loss to the Lions over the past weekend, will be bolstering their team with some returning Scottish internationals, including their scrum, which by the numbers is the best in the competition.

South Africa-born Scottish international Pierre Schoeman is expected to be back in the starting lineup, and could partner fellow Scottish international Ewan Ashman, and with Springbok prop Boan Venter make an intimidating front row.

However Stormers prop Sazi Sandi says that they are ready for the challenge and are excited to front up against some of the best forwards in the URC, especially after their strong recent scrum performances, including against the Dragons over the past weekend.

Great scrum culture

“We’ve built a great scrum culture. We’ve got a really strong back five (in the pack) and those guys are fully bought in. Every scrum, they’re keen and excited to go,” explained Sandi.

“As props, we love that. It gives you confidence knowing the guys behind you are all in. You don’t have to worry about anything else, you just focus on your job and your process.

“The biggest thing for us is to come together as a unit and not do our own thing. When we do that, we’re at our best.”

Sandi, who played off the bench against the Dragons, will be reaching a personal milestone on the weekend when he makes his 50^th appearance for the Stormers against Edinburgh.

“It’s definitely special. It’s something I earmarked at the start of the season. To get close to 50 for this team means a lot,” said Sandi.

Stormers attack coach Dawie Snyman was also asked about the potential scrum battle between the two sides, and said the team wouldn’t be looking to shy away from that battle on the day, despite the strength of the Edinburgh pack.

“You’re probably asking the wrong guy,” said Snyman with a chuckle. “But Scrums are part of the game and we pride ourselves in that department. We want to test ourselves against the best.

“There are going to be scrums in the game, so we have to make sure we get it right. We know it’s a platform for us as well, so we are definitely not going to run away from it now.”

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has confirmed that star defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will not feature in Friday’as international friendly against Panama at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Mbokazi’s long trip to join Bafana

Mbokazi has made the long journey to join up with the Bafana camp from the USA, and will only be available for Tuesday’s clash with Panama at the Cape Town Stadium. Also missing tonight will be Minnesota United winger Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

ALSO READ: Broos explains Mofokeng’s attacking role for Bafana“This is not tactical, this is not because they are sick or injured,” said Broos, according to iDiski Times.”It’s just a question of the trip they made from America to here, and also the jet lag.”There is seven hours time difference, so those guys need a little bit of time to recover. But they will be there on Tuesday for the second game.”The absence of Mbokazi will potentially give a chance to 22 year-old Ime Okon to show what he has learned in his time with Hanover 96 in the German Bundesliiga II.Orlando Pirates’ Nkosinathi Sibisi and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Khulumani Ndamane are the Bafana head coach’s other options in the heart of defence.
If Okon does play, he won’t be making his Bafana debut, as he already featured for South Africa in the 2025 Cosafa Cup.

Leaner’s chance?

Goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner is another who has already made his Bafana debut, in a friendly against Tanzania last June.The Sekhukhune United shot-stopper, however, was still a surprise call-up to this Bafana squad ahead of Orlando Pirates ‘keeper Sipho Chaine.”I don’t feel like I was surprised, in the preliminary squad there are always five goalkeepers so if your name is there in the beginning, among the five, you always have to be ready,” said Leaner, according to SABC Sport.
“Anything can happen … you have to be ready. If you feel like there’s always (a set) three and you won’t make the final squad, then when you do get a chance you won’t be ready.”

Why Panama?

Bafana are playing Panama because they wanted to face a Central American country.

South Africa will face CONCACAF giants Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals in Mexico City on June 11.

Panama have also qualified for the World Cup and are drawn in Group L alongside Ghana, England and Croatia.

ALSO READ: Okon has a chance to make a case for the Bafana defenceThe objective is to play against an African team,” Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen said at his squad announcement for the Bafana clash. “
“There are quite a lot of similarities with Ghana and what we expect to face against South Africa. That was the aim.”