Mamelodi Sundowns’ dream of defending their CAF Champions League title went up in smoke after they were eliminated by Angolan outfit Wiliete SC, who held the South African giants to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday evening.
The result saw Wiliete progress to the group stage on the away-goals rule after the two sides had played to a goalless draw in the first leg in Angola last Sunday.
The Brazilians went into the return leg knowing that a victory would secure their passage to the next round, but they were left licking their wounds after failing to protect their advantage against the determined visitors.
Sundowns made a promising start to the encounter, with Tashreeq Matthews opening the scoring in the 11th minute to put the defending champions in front and raise hopes of a comfortable passage into the next round.
However, the Angolan side refused to surrender, and their persistence paid off when Angola international Mabululu found the back of the net in the 49th minute to restore parity.
The goal proved decisive, as Wiliete needed only to protect the 1-1 scoreline to advance, having scored the crucial away goal that Sundowns failed to register in the first leg.
Despite their efforts to find a winner, Sundowns could not break down the visitors’ defence, leaving the home supporters stunned as the final whistle confirmed one of the most unexpected results of their continental campaign.
The elimination represents a major setback for the Tshwane giants, who had been hoping to continue their dominance of African club football after lifting the trophy last season.
Sundowns had reached the group stage in each of the previous 11 editions of the competition, making their early exit an especially painful blow for the club.
For Wiliete, meanwhile, the result marks a historic achievement, as the Angolan outfit secured qualification for the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time in the club’s history.
Pirates march into the next round
While Sundowns suffered a devastating setback, fellow South African giants Orlando Pirates enjoyed a memorable evening after demolishing African Stars 4-0 at Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers’ emphatic victory secured their progression to the next stage of the competition, completing a successful second-round qualifying campaign after their 1-0 first-leg victory over the Namibian side.
Tshepang Moremi had scored the decisive goal in the first leg in Botswana on October 17, giving Pirates a slender advantage heading into Friday night’s return encounter.
The Soweto giants capitalised on home advantage to deliver a commanding performance and book their place in the next round with a convincing aggregate victory.
Pirates will now turn their attention to the challenges ahead as they seek to make a significant impact in Africa’s premier club competition.
The contrasting fortunes of the two South African sides made for a dramatic night in the CAF Champions League, with Pirates celebrating progression while defending champions Sundowns were left to reflect on a campaign that ended far earlier than anticipated.