Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns saw their Caf Champions League title defence come to a stunning end after a 1-1 draw against Angolan outfit Wiliete in Pretoria on Friday night, with the visitors securing a historic passage to the group stage.
The result ended Sundowns' remarkable run of 12 consecutive group-stage appearances, with Masandawana failing to reach the lucrative stage of the competition for the first time since 2015. In doing so, they became the first defending champions to fall before the group phase since TP Mazembe in 2016 and only the seventh reigning champion to suffer such a fate in the modern era.
It's a historic night for Wiliete as they knock the African Champions out of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL ❌ #SSFootball https://t.co/tjFHbglDtd
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 23, 2026
After a goalless first-leg encounter, Sundowns started positively on home soil and nearly struck inside five minutes when Thabang Matuludi headed wide from an Aubrey Modiba corner.
The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute as Tashreeq Matthews' effort from the edge of the area took a decisive deflection before finding the back of the net. The goal was Matthews' first in this season's competition and only his second in 25 Caf Champions League appearances, with both strikes coming in the preliminary rounds.
Tashreeq Matthews with a banger 😮💨🚀 Masandawana get a fast start at Loftus 👏 📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc https://t.co/uD0PfxoK5c
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 23, 2026
Despite falling behind, Wiliete continued to threaten and almost drew level before halftime when former Orlando Pirates winger Gilberto forced Ronwen Williams into a superb save with a powerful header.
Brayan Leon then squandered a golden opportunity to put Sundowns firmly in control on the stroke of halftime, firing wide after breaking through on goal.
WILIETE DELIVER THE KILLER BLOW
The Angolans stunned the home crowd just minutes after the restart. A loose pass in the Sundowns defensive third was intercepted by Mabululu, who raced through on goal and calmly slotted past Williams to level the scores.
The striker's fourth goal of the campaign proved decisive as Sundowns desperately searched for a winner. Matthews and Leon were both denied by an inspired Elber Delgado, who produced a brilliant double save to keep Wiliete on course for a famous result.
Miguel Cardoso's side threw everything forward in the closing stages, introducing Siyanda Ndlovu in search of fresh impetus, but the visitors stood firm to complete one of the biggest upsets of the preliminary rounds.
HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR WILIETE
While the result will go down as one of Sundowns' most disappointing continental nights in recent years, it will be remembered as a landmark moment for Angolan football.
Playing in only their second Caf Champions League campaign, Wiliete have reached the group stage for the first time in their history and become the sixth Angolan club to achieve the feat after Primeiro de Agosto, Petro de Luanda, Recreativo do Libolo, Atlético Aviacao and Sagrada Esperança.
Their qualification also means Angola will have two representatives in the group stage for the first time since the 2021/22 season, with Petro de Luanda joining Wiliete among the continent's elite.
𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒 in Pretoria 😯 Mamelodi Sundowns will 𝐍𝐎𝐓 defend their #TotalEnergiesCAFCL crown ❌ #SSFootball https://t.co/c4mVYwBi2M
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 23, 2026
For Sundowns, the elimination continues a worrying trend against Angolan opposition. The Brazilians are now winless in their last five Caf Champions League matches against clubs from Angola and have managed just two victories in eight meetings overall.
Although their impressive 15-match unbeaten home run in the competition remains intact, the reigning champions' continental crown has slipped away far earlier than expected, while Wiliete march into uncharted territory with their biggest achievement on the African stage.