Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw by Angolan side Wiliete in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, first leg, on Friday evening. The result maintains the South African club's unbeaten run this season but will be seen as a missed opportunity to secure an away victory ahead of the return leg.
Midfielder T. Matthews opened the scoring for Sundowns in the 11th minute, netting his third goal of the season across all competitions with a low strike from the edge of the area. Wiliete's forward Mabululu found an equaliser early in the second half, striking in the 49th minute to ensure the tie remains finely balanced ahead of the second match in Pretoria. Sundowns' coach, Rulani Mokwena, expressed frustration with his team's inability to convert possession into more clear-cut chances after taking the lead.
The point from this continental fixture does not affect their domestic standing, where they remain the Premier Soccer League leaders. Sundowns sit first with 23 points from nine games, having won seven and drawn two. They hold a narrow one-point advantage over second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand, in the title race. Their goal difference of plus 15 is also the best in the division.
Their recent form shows three wins and two draws from their last five matches across all competitions. The team has scored 23 league goals this term while conceding only eight, claiming the tightest defence in the PSL. Key players such as Peter Shalulile and Teboho Mokoena were rested for the trip to Angola and are expected to return for the upcoming domestic cup match.
Attention now turns to a League Cup quarter-final clash against Marumo Gallants. That match is scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October, at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium with a 19:00 local kick-off. Following that, Sundowns are set to host Durban City in the league on 1 November.
Friday's draw extends Sundowns' unbeaten streak to five matches. Their last defeat came over a month ago, before the current run of form, which includes a 4-1 victory over Richards Bay and a 2-0 win against Orlando Pirates earlier this month. The team will aim to return to winning ways in front of their home supporters on Tuesday night. The second leg against Wiliete in the Champions League is scheduled for next weekend, with the aggregate winner advancing to the group stage.
Mamelodi Sundowns have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League. Wiliete SC progressed on the away-goals rule after the second leg finished 0-0 on 2026-10-18, ending Sundowns' 11-year run of reaching the group stages. The club confirmed the premature end to their continental campaign. Their focus now shifts to domestic duties, where they remain 1st in the Betway Premiership, 23 points from nine games.
Football analyst Moses Martins has blamed CAF for Mamelodi Sundowns' Champions League exit. Martins told reporters, "Sundowns, being the defending champions, shouldn't be playing the preliminary stages." He argued the fixture load contributed to the elimination. The club remains 1st in the Premier Soccer League, with 23 points from nine games and a recent form of WDWWW.
Mamelodi Sundowns have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League. The club confirmed their exit after a 1-1 second-leg draw with Wiliete SC on 2026-10-23 saw the Angolan side progress on away goals. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams returned from injury for the match, but midfielder Teboho Mokoena was unavailable. The team remains 1st in the Premier Soccer League, with 23 points from nine games.
