Mamelodi Sundowns suffered an unexpected setback yesterday, crashing out of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) after being held to a 1-1 draw by Angola’s Wiliete SC.
Wiliete progressed on the away-goals rule after the first leg in Angola ended in a goalless draw.
Yanga fans will remember Wiliete SC, having faced them in the preliminary round last season and eliminated them with a 5-0 aggregate victory across the two legs.
This season, however, Wiliete came better prepared and managed to eliminate the defending champions from the competition.
The result serves as a reminder to football fans that every opponent must be respected, as the idea of a “small team” exists only on paper.
Sundowns’ elimination has also brought smiles to Yanga supporters, who have not forgotten what happened two seasons ago in their CAF Champions League quarter-final clash against the South African side.
Had Stephane Aziz Ki’s goal not been controversially disallowed, Yanga might already have made history by reaching the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
Sundowns survived what Yanga supporters viewed as favourable refereeing and eventually eliminated the Tanzanian side in a penalty shootout.
Clearly, Yanga have a strong opportunity to perform even better in this season’s competition, as the absence of some of the major continental heavyweights could make the challenge less daunting on paper.
