Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is dreaming of an all-South African Caf Champions League final.
Both Masandawana and Orlando Pirates have made the quarter-final of the prestigious continental competition. The defending Premier Soccer League champions are set to host Esperance while the Buccaneers will have to get past MC Alger.
If they both win the quarter-final and later the semi-final, the final will be played in Mzansi and South Africans will be guaranteed a trophy. Cardoso hopes both the Brazilians and the Sea Robbers can get into the last hurdle.
‘It would be fantastic for South African football' – Cardoso
“It’s obvious that in this type of international competition that you should expect that South African teams can do well, so my expectation is that Orlando Pirates can make a good way and why not face each other in the final,” the Portuguese stated.
“That would be fantastic for South African football, I remember I played myself in a Europa League final when I was in Braga against FC Porto, so it was amazing to have an experience… it would be amazing to have a final with two South African teams.
“So let’s work hard so we can arrive at that moment and why not play a [Champions League] final together [as two South African clubs],” Cardoso concluded.
Sundowns will play Esperance in the first leg at Tshwane on April 1 before playing away in Tunis on April 8. On the same dates, Orlando Pirates will start in Algeria before completing the task in South Africa.
