Miguel Cardoso Sends Strong Message to Hugo Broos Ahead of 2026 World Cup

• Miguel Cardoso has made some daring statements to Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• The Mamelodi Sundowns mentor gave an update about the injury a South African international picked up against Kaizer Chiefs
• The Portuguese coach named the Bafana Bafana star the best player in his position in the Premier Soccer League this season

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has sent a subtle yet strong message to Hugo Broos regarding player selection for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The Portuguese tactician has confirmed a worrying injury update on Keanu Cupido, admitting the South African defender could miss the remainder of the campaign after picking up an injury in the tense encounter against Kaizer Chiefs at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

The Bafana Bafana defender was substituted during the clash with Amakhosi, and early indications from Chloorkop have raised fears that the setback may be serious.

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Cardoso sent a strong message to Broos

Cardoso acknowledged that the club is preparing itself for a lengthy absence for Cupido, and he took the chance to question the national team dynamics, hinting that injuries seem to be affecting players who are not regular members of Broos’ South Africa national football team squad.

“We have lost several players with injuries, I think coach Hugo Broos is very happy because it seems the luck is picking the ones who are not Bafana established players, but let’s see how Morena will be,” Cardoso said.

His remarks suggested frustration that some Sundowns players continue to be overlooked for international duty, despite their performances at the club level. By referencing Thapelo Morena, who is also dealing with fitness concerns, Cardoso appeared to reinforce that sentiment.

Bafana Bafana have been placed in Group A for the World Cup alongside one of the host nations, Mexico, and would be facing them in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opening fixture.

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Cardoso: Cupido deserves Bafana recognition

Cardoso went even further when speaking about Cupido’s quality, boldly claiming the former Cape Town City defender currently stands above every other centre-back in the Premier Soccer League this season.

“I think Keanu is doing very well, maybe he was not on the coach's mind, but one day he will be an international for Bafana Bafana, I have no doubts, in the moment, he’s probably the best centre-back in the league,” Cardoso said.

The former Nantes manager's statement carried significant weight considering the standards expected at Sundowns. By praising Cupido so highly while questioning his omission from the national setup, he effectively challenged Broos to reconsider his defensive options ahead of the World Cup.

Cupido has been one of the more reliable figures in the Sundowns defence this season, impressing with his calmness on the ball, tactical awareness and physical strength in a backline constantly under pressure.

The injury update by Cardoso came at a bad time for Mamelodi Sundowns this season as they are battling Orlando Pirates for the Betway Premiership title, and are also facing Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat in the CAF Champions League final later in May, 2026.

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Losing an important player Cardoso rates so highly at this point of the season would be a major setback for both the club’s ambitions and Cupido’s hopes of breaking into Broos' Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 World Cup.

While the full diagnosis has yet to be confirmed, Cardoso’s comments indicated there is genuine concern that the defender could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Cardoso slams ref after Kaizer Chiefs draw

Briefly News earlier reported that Cardoso hit out at the referee in charge of the Mamelodi Sundowns clash against Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership fixture against Kaizer Chiefs.

The Pretoria giants dropped two crucial points in the title race with Orlando Pirates, and the Portuguese tactician was not happy with the officiating at the end of the match.

Source: Briefly News