Despite the defeat, Cardoso promises to retain his team's strength moving forward.

Cardoso was unable to guide Esperance to their fifth CAF Champions League title, which would have been their first since 2019, as they suffered a 1-0 loss to Ahly in the final.

Esperance midfielder Roger Aholou inadvertently scored an early own goal, deflecting a header from Ahly's defender Rami Rabia just four minutes into the match, granting the hosts a well-deserved lead.

"I am proud of my team's performance during the game, considering the challenge of showcasing our character in front of such a large number of supporters," Cardoso said during the post-game press conference.

"While I am not happy today, we will not lose our strength," concluded the Portuguese coach.

Under Cardoso's guidance, Esperance displayed an impressive performance during the knockout stages of the continental tournament, eliminating one of the title contenders, Mamelodi Sundowns FC of South Africa, in the semifinals.

Cardoso assumed the role of Esperance coach in January 2024 and led the Tunisian team through eight Champions League matches, suffering only one defeat in the final against Ahly.

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