Miguel Cardoso concedes Raja Casablanca gave Mamelodi Sundowns tough match as Abdel Sadek rejoices outsmarting '16 Masandawana individuals' alone in Caf Champions League encounter - 'I am the only one in the technical staff'

Raja Casablanca achieved their first victory in the Caf Champions League group stage, beating Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in a fierce match at the Stade Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Saturday night.

Benaissa Benamar netted the goal for the Botola Pro League powerhouse. Sundowns players, Khuliso Mudau and Bathusi Aubaas were sent off during the match, while Raja's Marouane Zila also received a red card.

Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso and Raja interim coach Hafiz Abdel Sadek, who assumed control of the team following the dismissal of coach Ricardo Sa Pinto, commented on the result of the clash.

"It was a difficult match. I think that in the first half especially we had to cope with a lot of pressure, which reduced the spaces to play. We were not able to find the available spaces, mostly on the back of their defence," Cardoso said after the match. 

"They put the defensive line very high, so we struggled a little bit to find the spaces, but what changed the game was the way we suffered the goal in the last minutes of the first half because it is always mentally, and emotionally difficult to deal with the goal in the last minutes when we need to reorganize the team.

"We had just lost one player, so we needed to arrive at half-time for us to eventually make all the arrangements and tactically position the team in the best way." 

Although he admitted it was not easy for Sundowns, Cardoso was disappointed his troops were wasteful in the second half. 

"Even after suffering the goal, it was clear that during the second half, we managed and we controlled the game, we just gave some opportunities in counterattack for Raja," explained the Portuguese mentor. 

"Unfortunately, we were not able to score. We managed tactically different approaches in the second half after the red card, we rebalanced the team to try to do our best to win. And we had the two, or three moments we didn’t take advantage of them and unfortunately, the result is what it is.

"Now, it’s important to focus on the next one, look forward, we have an important match you know, we play away with Maniema," he added. 

"So, let’s recover as much as we can because we lost three players for the next match. Let’s try to see who is ready and in condition to give the answer we need. For sure, we’ll do it and see the best tactical approach so that we can win the next match and make the qualification closer."

The Raja CA caretaker coach was full of joy after managing to outclass a strong "16" Sundowns technical team led by Cardoso. 

"There is a different response between me and the players, there is respect and love, and I showed some of the players pictures of me wearing the Raja shirt when I was 11 years old, and I am here to help them," Sadek said, per ElBotola. 

"I did not train the entire group, but this week we prepared with full squads, and there is love for the team and desire from the players. I told them that in life there is an opportunity and the opportunity came to us today, so either wait or seize it."

"I am the only one in the technical staff, and in the opposing team there are 16 individuals, so if each one presents an idea, there will be a wealth of ideas, and here it appears that the players have a great impact," he continued. 

"We should not stop at this victory, but rather it should be the start. We did not take advantage of the wrong passes due to the pressure. I asked the players to press only in certain minutes, but their enthusiasm pushed them to press throughout the entire first half, " he added. 

"The injuries forced us to make changes according to the capabilities we have, such as Bikoro and El-Naggar, so that they do not make mistakes and so that we restore balance to the midfield."

Sundowns are set to face off against Congolese team AS Maniema Union on Saturday, January 11, while Raja will strive for three points against Botolo rivals AS FAR Rabat on the same day as Masandawana.

With merely two matches remaining in the Caf Champions League group stage, these forthcoming matches will be extremely important for both Sundowns and Raja as they seek to advance to the next phase of the tournament.