Mamelodi Sundowns scored five goals in Nigeria and Orlando Pirates conceded three in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in a mixed day for South Africa in CAF Champions League qualifying.
Sundowns were runners-up to Egyptian side Pyramids in the premier African club competition last season and once again rank among the favourite to pocket the $4 million first prize.
But despite being among the Champions League title contenders for many seasons, not even their most partisan supporters foresaw a 5-1 second round, first leg victory over Remo Stars in Abeokuta.
Mamelodi Sundowns make a massive statement against Nigeria's Remo Stars 👆🟡#TotalEnergiesCACL | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/q8bcTMdcZd
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 19, 2025
Namibian Peter Shalulile, Portuguese Miguel Reisinho and Brazilian Arthur Sales were among the five scorers for Sundowns, who led 2-0 at half-time.
While no Nigerian club has won the Champions League since Enyimba in 2004, representatives from the most populous country in Africa are usually competitive at home in continental competitions.
Pirates were semifinals losers to Pyramids last season and there were expectations that they would go far again.
A 3-0 loss to Saint-Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi, however, means the odds are against the Buccaneers even reaching the group stage that follows the second round.
☠️ FT | @fcsteloilupopo 3 - 0 @orlandopirates
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) October 19, 2025
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#TotalEnergiesCAFCL #OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/C5ADnkbHRk
Making a rare Champions League appearance, Lupopo were ahead inside three minutes through Wanet Kashala and Burkinabe Dramane Kambou and Jean Benoit Tukumbane scored in the second half.
While the away-goal rule has been scrapped in European club competitions, it remains in Africa.
Were Lupopo to score once in South Africa on Saturday, Pirates would have to do so five times to survive.
Another potentially serious contender to build a 3-0 advantage were Tanzanian outfit Simba away to Nsingizini Hotspurs from Eswatini.
Kibu Denis netted twice in the closing stages for the Dar es Salaam club, who were runners-up in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup last season.
After four failed attempts, Zambian champions Power Dynamos are poised to reach the group phase a first time, and pocket a minimum $700 000.
They came from behind to beat Vipers from Uganda 2-1 in Kampala, where Derrick Ndahiro conceded an own goal on 77 minutes after Kenyan Moses Shumah had equalised.