Nuno Santos and Peter Shalulile scored at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to hand the Brazilians another win after beating their second preliminary round rivals on their own turf in the first leg. Since the big win at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Downs' tactician has revealed that their objectives shifted.
South African teams were in action this weekend in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Pirates and Sundowns did action in the continent’s premier competition - the CAF Champions League - while Chiefs and Stellies were playing in the Confederation Cup.
On Sunday, South African defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stages with a commanding 7–1 aggregate win over Nigeria’s Remo Stars. The result underlines Masandawana’s continental ambitions as they continue their pursuit of a second CAF Champions League star.
Heading into the return leg, Masandawana all but sealed their spot in the group stages after a dominant 5-1 first-leg win over Stars. With their midweek league clash against Sekhukhune United postponed, the hosts enjoyed a full week of focused prep ahead of the second leg, ready to finish the job and maintain their continental momentum.
GOAL gives you the details to follow Madandawana's hosting of the Sky Blue in this CAF Champions League second preliminary round, second leg at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday. Having recorded a big win away in Nigeria last week, Masandawana are likely to have an easy afternoon but at the same time wary of a big upset.
The Tshwane giants head into the game confident, given the kind of results they registered away from home. The technical bench must be mulling over whether to deploy their usual first teamers or deploy other players who have not been regularly used in order to prove themselves.
With a star-studded squad and a massive budget, the Tshwane giants find themselves under the spotlight again, with expectations high on them to dominate both at home and on the African continent. A senior player explains what they have been prioritising.
The Amakhosi tactician has been forced to explain the situation around the club's new signing. The player looks set to feature for the DDC side, raising questions on whether he remains a first-team star or has been demoted.
Despite playing away from home, Downs managed a huge victory that took them closer to the CAF Champions League group stage. However, the win has been described in sceptical terms, as the Nigerian club has been categorised as a weaker opponent for Masandawana.
The Brazilians have been criticised when they putting below-par standards owing to the quality within their squad, which is made up of experienced members. The former Esperance coach insists it is not the right way to gauge the team since their rivals seem to get a soft landing.
After two weeks away from the pitch, Rayners is finally back in training. The 29-year-old suffered a medical scare that could have derailed his career; however, according to Miguel Cardoso, the issue was detected and addressed in time, allowing him to make a safe return.
After failing to score in a CAF Confederation Cup against AS Simba, Amakhosi again have proved that they have quite a blunt striking force. Against Siwelele, they were not only ineffective up front but also looked vulnerable at the back.
The Brazilians made a statement win in Abeokuta, making their intentions clear in the premier continental competition. After finishing as runner-up last season, Masandawana are back for another shot at the tournament they last won in 2016.
Going by how they have performed on the domestic front, there were fears Masandawana could struggle. However, the Tshwane giants were in a class of their own, as they registered a huge first-leg win.
The Brazilians kicked off their CAF Champions League journey with a trip to M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium on Sunday, 19 October, for the second preliminary round of the continental showpiece. Ranked among Africa’s elite, the South African side received a first-round bye; a nod to last season’s run to the final, where they ultimately fell short against Egyptian giants Pyramids FC.
GOAL gives you the details to follow Madandawana's first match in the CAF Champions League this season. They face their Nigerian hosts at MKO Abiola International Stadium on Sunday as they begin the quest to atone for last season's heartbreaking near-miss in the Champions League when they reached the final but lost to Egyptian moneybags Pyramids FC.
Masandawana will be seeking redemption following their elimination from the domestic competition, the Carling Knockout Cup. After falling at the ultimate stage last season to Pyramids FC, Downs hope to win their second continental star this time around.
The Brazilians are in West Africa as they begin their bid to win the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2016. They have experienced near-misses in recent seasons, including being losing finalists last season. Their coach now opens up on his side's readiness for harsh weather in Abeokuta.
The Premier Soccer League will be well represented this weekend across the two CAF inter-club competitions in Africa. The four teams are hoping to get a positive result in the first leg of the annual tournaments. An aggregate win for Mzansi representatives will see the trio get into the group stage and reap big financial rewards.
The two Masandawana stars were not involved in the later stages of the qualifiers as South Africa withstood pressure to qualify for the global showpiece. To be part of the World Cup-going squad, the duo has been told what to do.
The matter involving the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder threatened to block South Africa from qualifying for the global football competition. That left the player himself, SAFA and the team manager under sharp criticism for the way they handled the issue which almost put to waste the work done by Hugo Broos' side.
Bafana Bafana concluded a successful international break with qualification for the 2026 World Cup. GOAL now turns its attention to the PSL clubs and South African stars taking centre stage in the CAF inter-club competitions this weekend, with an array of challenges awaiting across the continent.
The Bafana Bafana star left Amakhosi for their PSL rivals, and now the move has been described as a mistake on the part of the Glamour Boys. After just one season with his current club, he is tipped to be the next top defender for the national team.
South Africa will be part of the global competition once again for the first time since 2010, when they hosted it. However, this achievement came against some odds, as Mzansi were faced with what appeared like an insurmountable challenge, which, in the end, they overcame.
The new signing has been tipped to shine even more when he fully settles at the Chloorkop-based heavyweights. However, the midfielder's good start with his new club comes at a time when Masandawana are shaky and have just been eliminated from another competition.
The Tshwane giants are far from what they have been associated with before: a lethal force that dismantled opponents with ease. Their dream of winning more titles this season was dealt a huge blow after elimination from the Carling Knockout Cup and MTN8.
Remo Stars
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