Sundowns held by Maniema Union in Pretoria

Mamelodi Sundowns had to settle for a point in their CAF Champions League Group B opener after being held to a 0-0 draw by AS Maniema Union at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night

Manqoba Mngqithi's side will travel to Morocco next for a clash with AS FAR on matchday 2, with the Green and Blacks hosting Raja Casablanca at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

Sundowns and debutants Maniema Union both put on a fight, but nothing can separate them in the end 👇#TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/jUNlien1sI

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 26, 2024

The Brazilians were looking to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Magesi in the Carling Knockout final on Saturday, while Maniema Union hoped to put on a good show on their debut in the group stages of Africa's elite club competition.

Masandawana took control of the game early on and threatened for the first time on 16 minutes when Lucas Ribeiro forced Bridel Efonge into a save with a curling effort before Marcelo Allende's volley from inside the box narrowly missed the target moments later.

Efonge did well to tip Teboho Mokoena's free-kick over the crossbar on the half-hour mark and Ribeiro fired just wide of the goal five minutes later after good link-up play with Arthur Sales.

Inches away 🤏

Teboho Mokoena's freekick was almost the difference for Sundowns 👇

📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/mTRmUR8ZZa

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 26, 2024

The visitors held on to ensure the score remained 0-0 at the break, but they quickly came under pressure again in the second half as Edwin Saavedra sent a first-time shot just over the bar on 48 minutes.

Efonge then pulled off a sharp save to deny Sales at point-blank range in the 53rd minute and he was also required to keep out a strike from Thapelo Morena 10 minutes later.

Downs kept pushing for a winner and Ribeiro was a whisker away from finally breaking the deadlock in the 88th minute when he clipped the woodwork with a shot from the edge of the area.

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 0

AS Maniema Union (0) 0

Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, T. Morena, M. Khoza, G. Kekana, D. Lunga, M. Allende, T. Mokoena, E. Saavedra (N. Maema 72'), L. Ribeiro, A. Sales (P. Shalulile 72'), K. Kodisang (K. Mudau 72').

AS Maniema Union: B. Efonge, L. Dieumerci, O. Ndombele, T. Simete, E. Moanda, E. Otinga (J. Kanu 9'), J. Bakasu, A. Basiala, A. Bokomboli, J. Kitambala, J. Mboma.