Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso
The South African club drew the first leg 0-0 at home in Pretoria, leaving the semi-final evenly poised ahead of the second leg at Cairo International Stadium.
"The Champions League semi-final is important, and there is mutual respect between both teams. We are preparing well; each side knows the other and is ready," Cardoso told reporters on Thursday.
Reflecting on previous encounters with Ahly, Cardoso noted key differences from last season's final when he coached Tunisia's Esperance against the Egyptian side.
"There’s a difference between facing Ahly now and when I faced them with Esperance in last season’s final. That’s due to new players and signings, even though Marcel Koller remains in charge," he added.
"Tomorrow's crowd presence will be exciting. I saw it in Tunisia and Morocco and experienced it myself last year. The crowd is positive; it motivates us, and we are not afraid," he expressed.
Sundowns arrived in Cairo several days before the match, a strategic decision that Cardoso believes was beneficial.
"We deliberately arrived in Cairo early to adapt. My hotel room now feels like home. We've become accustomed to the weather, and so have the players; we've greatly benefited from this," Cardoso stated.
"Losing to a team like Ahly last year isn't really a loss. Every match has its circumstances, and staying in the competition itself represents success," he concluded.
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