By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 16, 2025

Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso, has voiced concern over the difficult travel arrangements facing his side as they prepare to meet Nigerian champions Remo Stars in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, PUCH Sports Extra reports.

The South African champions will begin their campaign with an away fixture at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta on October 19, before hosting the return leg in Tshwane a week later.

Despite earning a bye into the round due to their CAF ranking, the journey to Nigeria promises to be an arduous one for the Masandawana.

“The city we are going to play in, we have to travel for two days,” Cardoso told journalists as quoted by The South African.

“We cannot make both flights in one day. We need to do the best possible and then adapt when our players return from national duty. The trip is obviously difficult, but this is Champions League football.”

Sundowns, who have eight players recently involved with Bafana Bafana during the international window, will have to manage fatigue and logistics carefully ahead of the crucial first leg.

Among those returning from duty are captain Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, Malibongwe Khoza, Teboho Mokoena, Thapelo Morena, Bathusi Aubaas, and Iqraam Rayners.

The Pretoria-based club are once again among the favourites for continental glory, having come painfully close in recent seasons.

Since lifting their first and only CAF Champions League title in 2016 after defeating Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate, Sundowns have endured repeated near-misses.

They fell to Pyramids FC in last season’s final, to Esperance in the 2023/24 semi-finals, and to Wydad Casablanca, Al Ahly, and Petro de Luanda in successive campaigns before that.

Despite the heartbreak, Sundowns remain relentless in their pursuit of another continental crown, a quest that will begin in Nigeria against a hungry Remo Stars side brimming with confidence.

“It’s difficult, but that’s the nature of African football. We’ve been here before, and we know what it takes to compete at this level,” Cardoso said.

Remo, champions of the Nigerian Premier Football League and 10 points clear of Rivers United last season, are gunning to be one of the continent’s most improved clubs.

Source Punch Ng

Posted October 16, 2025

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