Angola’s Wiliete SC eliminated defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns from the CAF Champions League on Friday, 23 October 2026. A 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria sent the visitors into the group stage on the away-goals rule.
The tie finished level on aggregate after a goalless first leg in Angola. Wiliete’s goal in South Africa proved decisive, leaving Sundowns out of the competition despite avoiding defeat in either match.
Tashreeq Matthews put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute. His shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection before finding the net, giving Miguel Cardoso’s side the advantage on the night and across the two legs.
Sundowns retained that lead until half-time, but Cristóvão Paciência, known as Mabululu, equalised early in the second half. The Angolan striker intercepted a loose pass in the defensive third and finished past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The equaliser changed which team was heading through. Sundowns needed another goal to restore their aggregate advantage, while Wiliete could qualify by holding the score at 1-1.
Wiliete goalkeeper Elber Delgado helped preserve that position with a double save to deny Matthews and Brayan León. Cardoso introduced attacking reinforcements, including Siyanda Ndlovu, but the home side could not find a second goal.
Before the interval, Williams had kept Wiliete out when Gilberto threatened with a header. León also missed an opportunity to extend Sundowns’ lead before the break, firing wide after getting through on goal.
CAF confirmed Wiliete’s progression in its report of Friday’s qualifiers. Founded in 2018, the Angolan club has reached the group stage for the first time. Broadcaster SuperSport reported that this was only its second Champions League campaign. It identified Wiliete as the sixth Angolan club to reach this stage of the competition.
The result ended Sundowns’ title defence at the second preliminary round. TimesLIVE’s match report identified it as their first failure to reach the group stage since 2015, when TP Mazembe eliminated them.
The continental exit comes less than a fortnight after Sundowns won the MTN8. They beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Durban on 10 October, with Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners scoring. The club described that victory as its first MTN8 title in five years.
Their official results also record a 4-1 league win away to Richards Bay on 13 October, followed by the goalless first meeting with Wiliete on 18 October. The return in Pretoria brought their brief Champions League campaign to an end five days later.
Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, secured their group-stage place with a 4-0 home victory over Namibia’s African Stars. They advanced 5-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0.
Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, before Evidence Makgopa added a second approaching half-time. Mpho Padime made it 3-0 after the interval, and Makgopa completed his double in the 77th minute.
Sundowns’ published domestic schedule lists a Carling Knockout match against Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld on 27 October. A league meeting with Durban City at Lucas Moripe Stadium follows on 31 October.
Archive venue photograph: Marcello Casal Jr / Agência Brasil, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 6 July 2010. It does not show the October 2026 match, players or supporters. Source, CC BY 3.0 Brazil. Prepared landscape and social versions are cropped, resized and brightness-adjusted.
