Cardoso backs Sibiya’s imminent move from Sundowns to Ligue 1

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has backed Thato Sibiya’s imminent move to Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille. The 20-year-old defender was part of South Africa’s 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad before featuring at the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile.

Sibiya is expected to join Lille on loan, with an option for the French club to buy him from Sundowns. He was included in Sundowns’ pre-season camp in Austria, but his next step is now set to take place in France.

Cardoso believes Lille offers a strong environment for the left-back’s development. The Sundowns coach has previously worked in France and is familiar with the club’s facilities and its approach to developing young players. He also considers the move a major opportunity for Sibiya to continue progressing at a higher level.

The coach acknowledged that the transition will demand adaptation. He described French football as fast and heavily based on transitions and the use of space, with Lille providing a competitive setting for a young player. Cardoso feels Sibiya can handle that challenge, while stressing that his development in France will be as important as the level he reaches before arriving.

Sundowns regard Sibiya as a player who could become important to the club, but Cardoso also sees him as a potential future asset for South Africa. He said the club is balancing that belief with the need to protect its position in the agreement, while supporting the defender’s progress abroad.

Sibiya made his senior debut for Sundowns last season in a 2-0 Betway Premiership win over Orbit College, providing an assist immediately. He has since made four appearances for the first team, while also remaining a prominent member of the club’s DStv Diski Challenge squad during the previous campaign. The Lille move would give him an opportunity to build on that limited senior experience in a new footballing environment.