POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 20: Brian Onyango of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate team goal with Khuliso Mudau of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership match between Sekhukhune United and Mamelodi Sundowns at Peter Mokaba Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)

• Sundowns suffered their first defeat in 17 CAF Champions League matches, losing 1-0 to TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• In the CAF Confederation Cup, SuperSport United suffered a 2-0 home defeat to USM Algiers, leaving them at the bottom of Group A.
• Sekhukhune United secured their first points in the group stages with a 2-1 comeback victory against Diables Noirs, placing them third in Group D.
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page. 

South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns lost for the first time in 17 CAF Champions League matches when going down 1-0 to TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.

After a dramatic matchday two, Petro Luanda of Angola are the only team boasting a 100 percent this season following four victories in qualifiers and group games.

Title-holders and record 11-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt were held 1-1 by Young Africans in Tanzania and 2023 runners-up Wydad Casablanca of Morocco suffered a second straight defeat.

Having lost to Pyramids of Egypt in the first round last weekend, five-time champions Mazembe were desperate for maximum Group A points when they hosted Sundowns in Lubumbashi.

The Congolese succeeded thanks to a 60th-minute goal from Glody Likonza, who took advantage of slack marking to nod a cross past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Sundowns pair Themba Zwane and Khuliso Mudau were foiled by the woodwork as the club lost in the premier African club competition for the first time since falling to Petro in April 2022.

“The players gave everything and I am proud of them,” said Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, who suffered only his second loss in domestic and African competitions since taking charge last year.

Nouadhibou of Mauritania, who had Demini Saleck red-carded after 48 minutes, upset Pyramids 2-0 in Nouakchott in the same section, leaving all four clubs with three points.

Young Africans snatch draw

Meanwhile, Ahly went ahead in Dar es Salaam after 86 minutes through a rare headed goal by South African Percy Tau.

But Ivorian Pacome Zouzoua equalised in the first minute of added time to give Young Africans their first point after a heavy loss to Chabab Belouizdad in Algeria last weekend.

Ahly have four points, Medeama of Ghana and Belouizdad three each and Young Africans one in Group D.

Wydad, who have gone beyond the group stage each season from 2016 and won the competition twice in four final appearances, are in trouble after losing 1-0 to ASEC Mimosas in the Ivory Coast.

The defeat came one week after the Moroccans suffered a stunning home defeat by the Group B outsiders Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.

Sankara Karamoko scored the 72nd-minute winner in Abidjan, poking the ball into the net after goalkeeper Youssef el Motie had parried the ball twice.

ASEC top the table on goals scored from Jwaneng, who were held 0-0 at home by Simba of Tanzania. Pointless Wydad are last.

Petro, semi-finalists two seasons ago, surprised Etoile Sahel 2-0 in Tunisia thanks to two goals from Portuguese Alexandre Guedes.

The Luanda club have six points in Group C, Al Hilal of Sudan and four-time title-holders Esperance of Tunisia three each and Etoile none. 

CAF Confederation Cup

SuperSport United’s continental journey took a challenging turn as they succumbed to their second consecutive defeat in the group stage of the continent’s second-tier competition.

The South African side endured a 2-0 loss on home soil to the Algerian outfit USM Algiers on Sunday.

The recent defeat leaves Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United languishing at the bottom of Group A.

USM Algiers’ victory catapults them to the top spot, surpassing the second-placed Modern Future and the third-placed Al Hilal SC Benghazi in the standings.

To cap off the day in commendable fashion on Sunday, Sekhukhune United proudly hoisted the South African flag, securing their first points in the group stages.

In a comeback effort against Diables Noirs, they orchestrated a 2-1 victory, with goals from Kamohelo Sithole and Daniel Cardoso contributing to their triumph, which pushes them to third in Group D.