Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns were dumped out of the CAF Champions League on Friday night after playing out to a 1-1 draw against Angola’s Wiliete FC in their second preliminary round clash.
The Angolan side booked their place in the tournament’s group stages at the expense of Sundowns by virtue of the away goal rule. Last week’s first-leg ended in a goalless draw, meaning Wiliete’s solitary goal in tonight’s draw proved to be the difference.
The loss means Sundowns miss out on the group stages of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2015!
Elsewhere in Soweto, Orlando Pirates earned a 4-0 victory over Namibia’s African Stars to book their place in this season’s CAF Champions League group stages.
The Buccaneers earned a 1-0 win away from home last weekend, meaning they clinched the tie with a 5-0 on aggregate hammering.
Last season, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side crashed out of the tournament at the same stage, making tonight’s win all the more memorable.
With Sundowns eliminated from the Champions League and Kaizer Chiefs eliminated from the Confederation Cup, Orlando Pirates are currently the only South African team to qualify for the CAF Inter-club group stages.
Durban City could join them though however they’ll have to get past Mauritiun side Port Louis 2000 on Sunday away from home. They head into their CAF Confed Cup tie with a healthy 3-1 advantage from last weekend’s home-leg.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
