Esperance head coach Miguel Cardoso sent a message to the Mamelodi Sundowns after reaching the CAF Champions League final on Friday night.
The Tunisian giants secured a 1-0 win in the second leg of the semi-final at Loftus Versfeld, which sealed the spot in the final.
Esperance managed to stop Sundowns from scoring in back-to-back matches, but he says he has great respect for the club and coach Rulani Mokwena.
Read: Tau's Al Ahly Advance To Champions League Final
"Very happy, important moment. In Europe I had already won Europa League final, Youth League final, now Champions League final in Africa, amazing but this is for my players, they did a wonderful job," Cardoso told SABC Sport after the game.
"Big respect for Sundowns, for their quality, for their coach, players but a big respect for us, for the job, for the effort, for our organization. We believed and hoped that we would reach the final.
"So it's a victory also for my family. Many years far away from me and for my beloved at home, big love for them," he said.
Cardoso decided to praise the collective effort after being asked about young goalkeeper Amanallah Memmich, who starred in the second leg.
"I think the team is the Man of the Match but when you have a good team, you highlight the players. We did a wonderful job, Memmich did a wonderful job. The belief is the reason why we're here. Because the impossible is just what was never attempted," he went on.
"And we challenged ourselves to win here. We knew it would be difficult but we knew we would have our chances. Amazing game, this is sport, let's go," he added.
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