Mamelodi Sundowns stumble in Kigali as Al Hilal seize control of CAF Champions League group

Mamelodi Sundowns suffered their first defeat of the CAF Champions League campaign after going down 2-1 to Al Hilal at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday night, a result that has blown Group C wide open.

The Brazilians arrived in Rwanda knowing victory would put them firmly in control of their destiny, but instead they surrendered top spot to the Sudanese giants, who now lead the standings after producing a ruthless second-half display against last season’s finalists.

Miguel Cardoso rang the changes after attending to domestic business earlier in the week, clearly with one eye on squad management during a demanding schedule. The most notable omission was captain Ronwen Williams, with veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango handed the gloves in a high-stakes continental encounter.

That decision proved costly moments after the restart. Onyango was adjudged to have brought down an Al Hilal attacker inside the box, allowing Mohamed Abdelrahman to step up and calmly convert from the spot in the 46th minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Barely three minutes later, Sundowns found themselves in deeper trouble. Jean Girumugisho surged forward from midfield and unleashed a low drive from the edge of the area that beat Onyango at his near post, stunning the South Africans and sending the Amahoro Stadium into raptures.

Sundowns responded with urgency, and Cardoso turned to his bench for inspiration. The introduction of Arthur Sales and Peter Shalulile injected life into the attack, and the duo combined to pull one back in the 61st minute. Sales finished emphatically after a neat exchange with Shalulile, scoring his second goal against Al Hilal in as many meetings.

Despite sustained pressure in the closing stages, Sundowns could not find an equaliser, leaving their qualification hopes delicately balanced. They sit second in the group, just a point clear of third-placed Saint-Éloi Lupopo, with a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo looming large.

Attention now briefly turns to Nedbank Cup duties before Sundowns resume their continental quest, knowing that any slip-up from here could prove costly in a tightly contested group.