Miguel Cardoso: 5 reasons why Mamelodi Sundowns coach could be sacked

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is a man under immense pressure after his team’s recent struggles on the pitch.

Cardoso has watched his team fail to impress and while winning matches was papering over the cracks, defeats are leaving him in a precarious situation.

Sundowns have been unimpressive all season but being top of the table in the PSL and CAF Champions League earned Cardoso a stay of execution.

The Brazilians, however, exited both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout early in the season and now, their league and Champions League form is worrying, leaving Cardoso facing the possibility of the sack.

Afrik-Foot highlights five reasons why the Portuguese coach could be dismissed before the end of the season.

Inconsistent results

Sundowns have been the hallmark of consistency in South African football but their run 2025-26 has been anything but.

The PSL champions may have lost just one of their 15 league games but five draws in unlike them which has allowed Orlando Pirates to draw level and Kaizer Chiefs to move within two points. Even when they have been winning, they are not dominating their opponents.

Most of the time, it has been down to individual quality where a player pops up with a moment of brilliance but the ‘shoeshine and piano’ is no longer there.

In their last nine games, Sundowns have four wins, as many draws and one loss, results not associated with the team given the quality they possess.

Those kinds of runs were not even witnessed under his predecessor Manqoba Mngqithi but he was still sacked and Cardoso will know that it cannot continue, otherwise he might not see out the season.

Unimpressive style of play

Sundowns are known as Bafana Ba Style but they have not shown it for large parts of the Cardoso reign.

While they were impressive in the league last season with dominant performances, they have not been this term, with their football boring and as a result, they have lost their aura to the extent rival teams are coming into matches believing they can get a result.

Teams are no longer just sitting back and waiting for a chance on the counter but taking the game to Sundowns and they are being rewarded as the Brazilians look vulnerable, unable to open up opponents at will and also struggle to cope with intense pressing and set-pieces.

Sundowns fans are therefore left bored as their team seems to be playing for the result and not doing it in an entertaining manner and just like Mngqithi was sacked for a poor style, Cardoso could be out of the job over the same.

Poor Champions League run

Sundowns value success in the Champions League and a threat to that leads to a sacking.

While it is not so bad, their last two results have allowed others to close in and there is a danger of missing out on the quarter-final for the first time in nearly a decade.

A 2-2 draw with Al-Hilal at home was followed by a 2-1 loss to the Sudanese giants away and the Brazilians now head to matchday five on five points, one ahead of St Eloi Lupopo and MC Alger with Al-Hilal on eight.

A loss to Lupopo on February 8 could see them end the weekend in third place or even fourth on the log and that would surely spell the end for Cardoso.

Pressure from fans

There is no denying that Cardoso has lost the support of Sundowns fans who shouted Pitso Mosimane’s name during the draw with Al-Hilal.

The supporters even went ahead to attack Sporting Director Flemming Berg, showing how dissatisfied they are and if the style as well as results continues to be poor, the voices will grow louder and eventually force the club’s hand.

Cardoso can only silence them by ensuring his team is impressive on the pitch which looks a bit difficult at the moment.

Availability of Pitso Mosimane

Cardoso’s job has been under threat since the new season started but the pressure has increased in the last one month after reports that Sundowns were in talks with Pitso Mosimane.

Mosimane enjoys a cult status at the club after his eight trophy-laden years at Chloorkop and when it was reported that talks were ongoing, fans went crazy.

Cardoso has not helped himself with the poor display of his team and that, added to the fact that fans want Mosimane, who has no strings attached at the moment, makes a reunion possible which could accelerate the coach’s departure if things do not change quickly.