PRETORIA: Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League title defence ended at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night, where a 1-1 draw with Angola’s Wiliete SC sent the South African champions out on away goals.
After a goalless first leg in Benguela, Sundowns needed victory at home to secure their place in the group stage. Instead, a second-half equaliser stunned the Pretoria crowd and carried Wiliete into the competition’s group phase for the first time.
For Sundowns, the result ends a run of group-stage appearances stretching back to 2016 and leaves coach Miguel Cardoso facing an early continental exit.
Matthews gives Sundowns the lead
Sundowns welcomed back captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams but were without injured midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
The hosts started confidently, dominating possession and pressing the Angolan defence. Their early pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Tashreeq Matthews’s shot deflected off Arao Lologi and beat goalkeeper Elber Delgado.
Sundowns reached half-time with the lead, but their inability to score again left the tie open.
Four minutes after the restart, a misplaced pass from Cassius Mailula released Angola international Cristóvão “Mabululu” Paciência, who curled his finish past Williams.
The equaliser changed the contest. With the aggregate score level at 1-1, Wiliete held the advantage through their away goal. Sundowns pushed for a winner, but the visitors held firm as the hosts increasingly turned to long balls.
Cardoso accepts responsibility
Cardoso offered no excuses after the match.
“Of course it is a failure. It’s a failure from everybody, and we should embrace it from the coaches and everybody,” he said.
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“We controlled the match, but we just failed to score. When you don’t finish the situations that you create, you stay exposed to anything.”
He also dismissed the suggestion that missing players explained the defeat.
“That is not an excuse at all. The team that played today should have won the match.”
The exit costs Sundowns the opportunity to compete for further Champions League prize money and earn revenue from additional home fixtures. Their attention now shifts to domestic league and cup competitions.
For Wiliete, qualification marks a dramatic turnaround after Tanzania’s Young Africans eliminated them 5-0 on aggregate at the same stage a year ago.
Pirates make sure of qualification
Orlando Pirates enjoyed a more comfortable passage, beating Namibia’s African Stars 4-0 in the second leg to complete a 5-0 aggregate victory.
Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Evidence Makgopa doubled the lead shortly before half-time. Mpho Padime added a third after the restart, and Makgopa completed his brace in the 77th minute.
Tshepang Moremi had scored the only goal of the first leg in Gaborone.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou had cautioned against complacency before the return fixture, saying: “I cannot say we have one foot in the group stages.”
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His players settled the matter emphatically.
Big names fall across the continent
Sundowns were among several established clubs eliminated in the qualifying round.
Morocco’s MAS Fès won 2-1 away at ASEC Mimosas to advance 3-2 on aggregate, while Tunisia’s Club Africain beat TP Mazembe 1-0 to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive also reached the group stage for the first time, with Eyango Priso scoring the decisive goal against Senegal’s Teungueth.
Elsewhere, Tanzania’s Simba SC beat 15 de Agosto 3-0 to complete a commanding 9-1 aggregate win.
Pyramids advanced 5-0 on aggregate against El Merriekh Bentiu, Zamalek eliminated APR 2-0, RS Berkane defeated Star Sport Academy 3-0, and Al Hilal progressed with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Sidama Bunna.
Comebacks and penalties settle remaining ties
MC Alger overturned a first-leg deficit against Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers, winning the return match 3-0 to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
Angola’s Petro de Luanda also recovered to eliminate Scottland 3-2 over the two legs.
Espérance de Tunis needed a penalty shootout to get past Asswehly, winning 3-1, while Horoya AC beat Al Merrikh 5-3 on penalties.
According to Soccer Laduma, the group-stage draw is expected to take place in Cairo on Wednesday, although CAF has yet to confirm the date. The group stage is scheduled to begin on 27 November.
