Esperance boss: We'll work to disrupt Downs' strengths

Esperance head coach Miguel Cardoso has promised his side will try to disrupt Mamelodi Sundowns' strengths ahead of their crunch CAF Champions League tie. 

The Tunisian outfit hold a 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the second leg of their CAFCL semi-final on Friday, courtesy of a goal by the side's Brazilian star Yan Sasse. 

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Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match set to take place at Loftus Versfeld, Cardoso recognised the threat carried by Rulani Mokwena's men but also lauded his players' abilities to be dangerous at any point in the game.

"We will employ all the capabilities of our team in order to win this match and qualify for the final," he said, per Kooora. 

"We will do our best to reach the final and make our fans happy, and we will work to disrupt Sundowns' strengths.

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"We will face a strong competitor that has proven its quality through its distinguished results in recent years, but we are capable of making the difference at any moment during the match. 

"Esperance is also a strong team with a great history and has won many titles, and we know very well the way our opponent plays."

The Portuguese tactician was appointed as Esperance's head coach in January this year, with the reported mandate of winning the continental club tournament, a trophy that has eluded the side since 2019. 

If the Blood and Gold manage to knock Sundowns out of the competition, they would progress to their eighth CAFCL final.

The four-time African champions will be hoping their defence — which has helped them not concede a goal in the side's last seven games