South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a commanding performance in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Sunday, thrashing Nigeria’s Remo Stars 5–1 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
The result puts the Pretoria-based giants firmly in control ahead of the return leg in South Africa.
Coming into the game under pressure following a poor domestic run three defeats in their last four games, Remo Stars were desperate for redemption on the continental stage.
However, it was the 2024 CAF Champions League runners-up who seized control early and never let go.
The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute through Tashreeq Matthews, who rifled a precise strike from the edge of the area beyond the reach of Remo goalkeeper, Obassa Adebiyi.
The goal silenced the home crowd and set the tone for a dominant showing by the South African champions.
Despite some efforts by the Nigerian champions to respond, the Sundowns continued to dictate the tempo.
Just minutes before half-time, their dominance paid further dividends when Namibian striker Peter Shalulile doubled the lead.
Outmuscling his marker, Shalulile slotted calmly past Adebiyi to send the visitors into the break with a two-goal cushion.
The second half offered little respite for Remo Stars, as the Sundowns resumed with intensity and purpose.
In the 61st minute, Khuliso Mudau surged down the flank and delivered a low ball into the box, which Portuguese midfielder Miguel Reisinho tapped home from close range to make it 3–0.
Remo Stars showed some fight as they tried to claw their way back into the contest.
In the 72nd minute, substitute Samson Olasupo struck the crossbar with a thunderous effort, the closest the hosts came to narrowing the gap.
But it was Sundowns who continued to pile on the misery.
Just minutes after Olasupo’s near miss, Arthur Sales found the back of the net with a composed finish, stretching the lead to four goals.
Olasupo would finally pull one back for Remo Stars, converting a low drive to make it 4–1.
However, the respite was short-lived. In the 85th minute, Tsiki Nsabeleng scored his debut goal for the Sundowns, restoring the four-goal advantage with a composed finish to cap off a comprehensive victory.
Sundowns’ fluid movement, clinical finishing, and tactical discipline were evident throughout the game, while Remo Stars looked overwhelmed for large spells of the match.
The result leaves the Nigerian side with a monumental task ahead of the return leg, scheduled for October 26 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
This defeat also extends Remo Stars’ wait for a breakthrough into the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
Now in their fourth appearance on the continent, the club remains without a notable campaign run.
No Nigerian club has lifted the CAF Champions League title since Enyimba’s back-to-back triumphs in 2003 and 2004.
Although Nigerian clubs are often formidable at home, this heavy loss raises questions about their ability to compete at the highest levels of African club football.
For Sundowns, the performance underscored their status as one of the continent’s elite sides.
With one foot already in the group stage, the Brazilians as they’re affectionately known will now turn their focus to finishing the job in front of their home supporters next week.
