Miguel Cardoso insists Mamelodi Sundows have been ‘mistreated’ ahead of CAF Champions League game vs Stade Malien

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to host Malian outfit Stade Malien in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-final outing at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday.

Masandawana finished second in Group C, behind Al-Hilal Omdurman and above Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger and St Eloi Lupopo, respectively, to set up a date with the West African team.

🚨𝙂 𝘼 𝙈 𝙀 𝘿 𝘼 𝙔🚨

🆚 Stade Malien
⏰ 20H00
🏟 Loftus Versfeld
📺 SS 204 & SABC 3#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/C2cXMUdfM7

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) March 13, 2026

Stade Malien defied the odds to top the group that had Esperance, Petro Atletico as well as Tanzanian heavyweights Simba SC.

Ahead of the game, the Brazilians coach Miguel Cardoso has explained why he believes the Premier Soccer League has been unfair to his side.

Only Mamelodi Sundowns had a game

“Look, Sundowns, we played two days ago, so three days difference between matches, and between the two legs we will play Marumo Gallants; I don’t know if you know? But from all seven teams [left in the Champions League] besides us, nobody has matches between the two legs,” Cardoso told the media in a presser.

“Stade Malien had nine days to prepare for the match and will not play between the two legs of the competition, Esperance had seven days to prepare for the Al Ahly match and don’t play between the two legs.

“Al Ahly had six days to prepare and don’t play between the two legs, ASFAR has six days to prepare and don’t play between two matches, Pyramids have five days to prepare and don’t play between the two legs,” he added.

Mamelodi Sundowns feel ‘mistreated’

The Portuguese tactician believes the league management could have considered postponing the recent game against Orbit College played on Tuesday.

“Berkane six days, no games between legs, Al Hilal has 12 days and not playing between matches, this is an absolute shame what is happening in South Africa and how Sundowns is being treated, it is not normal!

“I spoke after the match in Rustenberg, regarding what happened in the French league with PSG and Spanish league with Real Madrid.

“Pep Guardiola was complaining about the treatment of the Premier League, but then I don’t want people to say that is Europe, seems like it’s another world, but it’s not, look at the realities in Africa, all the leagues are providing [good] conditions for their clubs to represent the countries in the best way, we feel mistreated in the way we’re being considered,” Cardoso further clarified.

Mamelodi Sundowns needed proper time to rest

“There’s also people probably happy that it’s raining and we have to play on a heavy pitch, not in the best conditions that we’d like it to be, which doesn’t help but there’s more important things than the pitch; because it’s the same for both teams,” he further clarified.

“What we needed was proper time to rest and prepare for this match – and rest after this one to prepare [for the second leg]; so there’s people working to create conditions for us not to succeed. [Thapelo] Morena is not available after being injured against ORBIT for the exact action that saw Jayden Adams get a red card against [Golden Arrows] but that player got nothing and we continue to play against 11.

“I’m not speaking about dark nights or ghosts, but I can’t speak about this, I don’t want to be punished, but it’s not proper for a club like this with a good attitude and sportsmanship to the game, not get provided the conditions to succeed,” Cardoso concluded.