The Al-Zaeem boss has refused to throw in the towel after his side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the South African side in the first leg of the continental showpiece. Despite the setback at Loftus Versfeld, the Portuguese tactician believes the tie is far from over as the Moroccans prepare for the return leg on home soil.

The Tshwane side arrived with ambitions of pushing for a second star and making amends for last season’s CAF Champions League final heartbreak, but they were met by a Moroccan outfit equally determined to make history of their own. As Miguel Cardoso had planned, Sundowns managed to get the result while also keeping a clean sheet. Although the narrow scoreline may not be enough to feel fully comfortable, the second leg will ultimately determine whether the South African giants have done enough to put one hand on the trophy.

The Masandawana left-back has lifted the lid on the relentless obsession driving the Brazilians’ pursuit of CAF Champions League glory. As the Tshwane giants gear up for a season-defining continental showdown, the message from the stands and the boardroom remains unwavering.

The defender has issued a defiant message to title rivals, the Buccaneers, insisting that the reigning champions are not ready to relinquish their crown just yet. Despite a tough draw against Amakhosi that dented their momentum, the Zimbabwean international believes the Brazilians' vast experience will see them through in the season's final stretch.

The Masandawana star has become one of the standout figures in the Chloorkop outfit and, indeed, in the Premier Soccer League. Season after season, he continues to prove he has the pedigree to proudly fly the South African flag on football’s biggest stages abroad. Yet, despite the growing speculation, his representative has moved quickly to silence the rumours, insisting that the midfield maestro remains fully committed to the task at hand at Chloorkop.

Although the Premier Soccer League title race between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates is at the centre of the spotlight, Bafana Bafana's World Cup preparations and performance will steal the show once the season ends. First, Hugo Broos will name his squad, and as usual, his selection will generate a different debate as his choices will be greatly discussed.