South African club Mamelodi Sundowns began their CAF Champions League title defence by drawing 0-0 away to Angolan outfit Wiliete on Sunday in a second round, first leg qualifier.
The defending champions were without injured captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and star midfielder Teboho Mokoena left the field on a stretcher after being fouled in the first half.
Sundowns did well to contain the threat of Wiliete striker Mabululu, the veteran Angola captain who scored three goals in the previous qualifying round.
The clubs meet again on Friday in Pretoria with the aggregate winners advancing to the group phase of the premier African club competition.
Sundowns have lifted the Champions League twice and hope to become the first South African club to win back-to-back titles.
Owned by Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe, Sundowns have already collected an international trophy since the domestic season kicked off in August.
They defeated Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia to win the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup. The victory set up a FIFA Challenger Cup semifinal against the South American champions or Toluca of Mexico.
The semifinal winners face UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain for the Intercontinental Cup. Dates and a neutral venue for the three matches have not been announced.
Former African champions Mouloudia Alger of Algeria and Esperance of Tunisia suffered away losses. Another ex-title-holder, ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, snatched a late draw.
Nigerian outfit Enugu Rangers beat Mouloudia 2-0 in Abeokuta thanks to late goals from Kenneth Igboke and James Emo.
Earlier, Enugu goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh and Mouloudia midfielder Oussama Benhaoua were sent off and a member of the Algerian coaching staff was also shown a red card.
Four-time champions Esperance fell 1-0 to Asswehly in neighbouring Libya. ASEC equalised in the third minute of added time through Souhalio Bamba to draw 1-1 with Maghreb Fes in Morocco.