WeeklySA_AdminHEARTBREAK: South African giants suffer a double continental blow as Zambia’s Red Arrows knock out Amakhosi on penalties and Angola’s Wiliete end Sundowns’ title defence — while Pirates cruise into the group stage…
By WSAM Sports Reporter
South African football endured a night of continental heartbreak on Friday as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns crashed out of African competition, their home grounds becoming theatres of disappointment against determined regional opponents.
Chiefs beat Zambia’s Red Arrows 1–0 in Durban but lost the penalty shootout that followed, while Sundowns were held 1–1 by Angola’s Wiliete in Pretoria and eliminated on the away-goals rule.
The double setback on October 23 left Orlando Pirates to provide the evening’s South African cheer, sweeping aside Namibia’s African Stars to secure their CAF Champions League group-stage berth.
For Chiefs and Sundowns, the frustration lay as much in the opportunities squandered as in the final outcomes. Both scored at home. Neither could find the additional goal needed to keep their continental ambitions alive.
At Moses Mabhida Stadium, Chiefs entered the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round tie trailing 1–0 after Alassane Diarra’s winner in Zambia.
Both scored at home. Neither could find the additional goal
needed to keep their continental ambitions alive…
Amakhosi controlled possession and created chances, but repeatedly failed to turn promising attacks into the goals their comeback required.
Thulani Mabaso tested the goalkeeper early, Pule Mmodi missed a headed opportunity and Wandile Duba failed to capitalise after breaking through.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 65th minute when Bradley Cross headed home a free-kick delivered by substitute Mfundo Vilakazi, levelling the aggregate score at 1–1.
With the home crowd urging them forward, Chiefs pressed for the decisive second goal. Ethan Chislett helped create opportunities for Mduduzi Shabalala and Velebayi, but neither could finish.
Red Arrows absorbed the pressure, protected the aggregate draw and then held their nerve to win the shootout 3–2, securing a Confederation Cup group-stage place.
In Pretoria, Sundowns’ Champions League title defence unravelled after a promising start against Wiliete.
Following a goalless first leg in Benguela, Tashreeq Williams put the hosts ahead after 11 minutes at Loftus Versfeld, giving them an advantage they carried into halftime.
But four minutes after the restart, Cristovao Paciencia, known as Mabululu, equalised for the Angolans.
That away goal transformed the contest. Sundowns suddenly needed to score again, while Wiliete had a result worth defending.
The hosts pushed forward, but the visitors held firm to complete a remarkable qualification for a club founded only in 2018. Sundowns were left to reflect on a home draw that ended their campaign before the group stage.
PIRATES PROVIDE THE RELIEF
At Orlando Stadium, Pirates delivered the emphatic performance their compatriots desperately needed. Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring after 11 minutes against African Stars before Evidence Makgopa doubled the advantage shortly before halftime.
Mpho Padime added a third soon after the interval, and Makgopa completed his brace in the 77th minute to seal a 4–0 victory and a commanding 5–0 aggregate success.
For the Buccaneers, the night brought progress and anticipation. For Chiefs and Sundowns, it delivered a brutal reminder of how quickly continental ambitions can disappear.
