Esperance de Tunis manager Miguel Cardoso has admitted that luck played a role in their vital CAF Champions League victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on the weekend.
The Tunisian giants booked their place in the final of this year's CAFCL after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate, with both legs ending 1-0 in favour of the Blood and Gold.
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Cardoso has since praised his players for their efforts over the course of the tie, and admitted that fortune was on their side during the encounter.
"Winning over Sundowns back and forth is not an easy matter. The credit goes mainly to the players who made tremendous efforts and showed great tactical commitment," the former Celta Vigo coach said, per Al Ain.
"It is worth recognising that luck helped us overcome the obstacle of the South African team, although that does not detract anything from the players' deservingness."
Esperance are now set to face Egyptians giants and 11-time CAFCL winners Al Ahly in the competition's decider, but the Portuguese tactician has insisted he and his players have not yet discussed the crunch tie.
"I have not yet spoken to the players about the Al Ahly match, as our focus was entirely on facing Sundowns."
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The two sides will go head to head in a two-legged final, with the first set to take place in Tunis on 18 May, and the return leg in Cairo seven days later.
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