Lobi stun Sundowns in Enugu

Lobi Stars secured a 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2018/19 CAF Champions League Group A match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Nigeria on Friday.

The victory saw the Nigerian side open their group stage campaign with a victory, while South African giants Sundowns suffered a surprise defeat.

The Brazilians looked dangerous in the opening stages of the encounter and they should have scored through Ricardo Nascimento.

The lanky defender connected well with Gaston Sirino's header, but Lobi goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode pulled off a great save to deny him in the ninth minute.

The visitors kept pushing for the opening goal and they managed to break the deadlock following a quick counter-attack eight minutes after the hour-mark.

Uruguayan winger Sirino set up Anthony Laffor, who scored with a tap in to make it 1-0 to Sundowns - scoring his second goal in as many matches.

However, the lead only lasted for seven minutes as Lobi scored through Yaya Kone, who scored from the spot-kick to make it 1-1 after the hosts were awarded a penalty.

Sunday Adetunji had been fouled inside the Sundowns box by Nascimento and Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha pointed to the spot.

Lobi and Sundowns were locked at 1-1 at the interval in Enugu.

The Ortom Boys were the better side in the opening stages of the second half and they managed to take the lead for the first time on the day.

Samuel Mathias fired home from inside the Sundowns box to make it 2-1 to Lobi in the 52nd minute after sustained pressure on the Brazilians' defence.

Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane then introduced speedy forward Phakamani Mahlambi as the visitors looked to level matters.

However, the Ortom Boys looked solid at the back in the closing stages of the encounter with the Brazilians struggling to create clear-cut chances.

Ultimately, Lobi secured a 2-1 victory over the 2016 Champions League winners Sundowns on match-day one of Group A.

Lobi (1) 2 (Kone 45', Mathias 52')Sundowns (1) 1 (Laffor 9')

Lobi: O. Kayode, E. Duru, J. Lazarus (K. Solomon 81'), E. Olisema, M. Bashirou, D. Ojo, A Aghahowa (K. Oahimijie 70'), S. Matthias, Y Kone (E. Mbah 48'), S. Adetunji, A. Ogunye.

Sundowns: K. Mweene, R. Coetzee (P. Mahlambi 65'), M. Lebusa, R. Nascimento, H. Kekana, T. Mabunda, T. Morena, L. Lakay, G. Sirino, A. Laffor, L. Maboe.