Mamelodi Sundowns coach reveals trump card for Bamako trip

Despite holding a 3-0 advantage from Friday night’s victory in Tshwane, Cardoso is expecting a far more difficult encounter, particularly with the match set to be played on an artificial surface and in conditions unlikely to suit Sundowns’ usual style.

He believes composure and experience will be key to managing the challenge.

"Obviously it will be a dry pitch and that makes the game slower and also the temperature that we are going to have there will be very high, so the rhythm will be slower, but with our experience and the players we have I believe we can have a good game there and fight for a result." 

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Sundowns will make the travelling logistics less chaotic by arranging a charter flight to Mali for next Sunday’s clash.

Cardoso did not want to get ahead of himself, and called on his players to switch their mindset to Tuesday night’s Betway Premiership encounter with Marumo Gallants at the same venue they beat Malien.

"I think the most important thing is that that everybody focuses on the Marumo Gallants match. It's a match that is important and they are a team, despite their position on the table, who are tough and we need to remember how our last match went with them - unfortunately its a bad memory, because we were a little complacent in that game."

The Portuguese mentor added that his selection for the Gallants game will be determined by the welfare of the players – and will not necessarily rest key players for the trip to Bamako next weekend.