Mamelodi Sundowns beat Durban City 4-1 in Rustenburg to return to the top of the Betway Premiership. Their coach Miguel Cardoso then criticised the refereeing, a week before the CAF Champions League final.
On Saturday in Rustenburg, Mamelodi Sundowns beat Durban City 4-1 to return to first place in the Betway Premiership, All Football reports, citing the iDiski Times. A clear win, but another subject dominated the post-match press conference.
Miguel Cardoso, the South African club’s coach, discussed the refereeing on the league matchday, a week before a far weightier appointment: the CAF Champions League final against USM Alger, scheduled for 8 November 2026 at 15:00 GMT.
One point ahead of the Pirates
Sundowns have 26 points from 10 matches, one more than Orlando Pirates, according to All Football. The Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Soweto derby and have a game in hand.
On the pitch, the victory was clear. But when it came to commenting on the matchday as a whole, Cardoso changed tack.
“Everybody saw”
Asked about the afternoon’s match, Cardoso said he had not watched it, while claiming he had seen the incidents.
“I just saw the incidents, and I think everybody saw the incidents, one night, one day again to remember for South Africa,” he said, according to PrimeSportsWithMahlatseTV, quoted by All Football.
The remark remains allusive. According to All Football, the coach suggested his team had been denied penalties and that refereeing errors always seemed to favour the same team. The report cites no specific decision and no club: these are suggestions, not a formal accusation.
Cardoso did, however, stress what is within his group’s control: his players must focus only on what they can control, their performance, according to the same source.
Camara to referee the final
The CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and USM Alger takes place on 8 November 2026 at 15:00 GMT. It will be refereed by Senegal’s Djibril Camara, APA reports.