Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has credited an "emotional connection" for Nuno Santos’ standout performance against Stade Malien. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has explained the key to unlocking the best version of Nuno Santos after the midfielder delivered a decisive performance in the Brazilians’ CAF Champions League quarter-final victory.
Santos produced two assists as Sundowns defeated Stade Malien 3–0 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night to take firm control of the tie heading into the return leg in Bamako.
The result reinforced Sundowns’ reputation as one of the continent’s heavyweights after reaching last season’s final, where they eventually fell to Pyramids FC. But while the goals came from Khuliso Mudau, Brayan Leon and Iqraam Rayners, it was Santos’ composure and distribution that knitted Sundowns’ attacking moves together.
Operating from deeper areas of midfield, the Portuguese playmaker delivered two incisive passes that split the Stade Malien defence open.
It was another reminder of why Sundowns moved quickly to secure the midfielder at the start of the 2025/26 campaign as one of their marquee additions.
In his first season at Chloorkop, Santos has already made 27 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and registering eight assists as he grows into one of the team’s creative reference points. For Cardoso, however, the key to Santos’ performances lies less in tactics and more in the environment around the player.
“I think Nuno is a player who needs to be put in the right emotional place to perform at the level that he can perform. Isn’t it the same with all of us?” Cardoso asked.
“Aren’t we people who produce more when we receive love?
"I can state that for him, but start with Ronwen (Williams) at the back until the players in the front. Obviously, for him (Santos), the reality of South African football was spontaneous. He’s a player who arrived, and in his first match, he got the Player of the Match.
“I think what is important, and I spoke about it (last Friday), I stated an expression of a German player that said that probably in some of the (Fifa) World Cups and European cups, German teams didn’t have big names, but they were always a strong team.
“So that’s one of the things I discussed with the team, so that they can face the match as a very strong collective, but it happened that individuals showed themselves, so I’m pretty happy with Nuno, like I am with everyone else, they were all committed.”
Attention now turns back to domestic business in the Betway Premiership, where Sundowns will host Marumo Gallants on Tuesday. With rivals dropping points over the weekend, victory could push the Brazilians back to the summit — another reminder that their ambitions this season stretch across both domestic and continental fronts.