Miguel Cardoso shares thoughts about searing conditions in Nigeria ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns' CAF Champions League clash with Remo Stars

Mamelodi Sundowns clash with Remo Stars in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, first leg at M.K.O Abiola Sports Arena on Sunday. 

It will be the Brazilians' first match of this Champions League campaign.  

Temperatures in Abeokuta are reaching 29 degrees Celsius and Masandawana coach Miguel Cardoso comments on whether his players will cope.   

“It is hot in Nigeria but it is also summer in South Africa,” said Cardoso as per Times Live

“Our players are used to playing in the heat because sometimes in South Africa we have high temperatures at this time of the year. At the end of last season, we played at the FIFA Club World Cup with difficult climate conditions due to the heat.
“I don’t think it is something that will affect the performance of the team.” 

Cardoso has cautioned his players against underestimating their opponents because Sundowns reached the Champions League final last season.

“If we want to win this game against Remo Stars, we need to be strong," he said.

"If we think we are favourites because we were finalists last year, we will be making a big mistake. I don’t go along with this kind of attitude, we have two matches and they are going to be difficult on different conditions. 

"We know what this team is capable of and we need to be loyal to ourselves by giving the best," added the former Esperance coach.

“We need to be focused on what we are going to do, otherwise, the story of the underdog can happen. We have to take this match seriously.”

Winning away from home will help Sundowns when they welcome Remo Stars for the second leg next week.

Scoring on the road will make the Nigerian side find it difficult against Masandawana in Tshwane.