The pressure from fans will only have increased on Miguel Cardoso after Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 2-1 defeat to Al Hilal at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in the Caf Champions League on Friday, 30 January.
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Goals in each half from Muhamed Abdelrahman and Jean Claude Girumugisha maintained the Blue Waves' unbeaten start in group C as they took top spot from the Brazilians, who managed to halve the deficit through Arthur Sales on 61 minutes.
Al Hilal get their second-ever win over Sundowns 🙌
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 30, 2026
They move to the top of Group C 🔵🔝#SSDiski | #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/KNN5N77Iwc
Cardoso's side are now in danger of dropping to third place and they will be hoping for MC Alger to do them a favour by beating Saint-Eloi Lupopo on Sunday.
Denis Onyango is too eager to go to ground and it's a penalty 🚨
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 30, 2026
Al-Hilal are ahead at half-time ⚽
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/79FblSxKcv
The Yellow Nation turned on the Portuguese a week ago following the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at Loftus Versfeld, with supporters chanting the name of Pitso Mosimane in the stands after the final whistle.
Bafana Ba Style really struggled to assert themselves in Benghazi as the hosts pressed them aggressively, although they almost opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Tashreeq Matthews rattled the frame of the goal with a first-time shot from the edge of the box.
Al-Hilal punish Sundowns with a lethal counter-attack ⚽⚡
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 30, 2026
Jean Claude Girumugisha smashes it from long range 🚀
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/0jAsWRl1S1
Denis Onyango also looked off the pace after starting his second game in succession, having featured in the 2-0 win over Sekhukhune United on Tuesday, and the decision would prove costly.
The veteran Ugandan goalkeeper brought down Abdel Raouf inside the area just before halftime to concede a penalty and Abdelrahman made no mistake from 12 yards out to put Laurentiu Reghecampf's side ahead.
Worse was to follow for Masandawana as they fell further behind just four minutes after the restart, with Girumugisha latching onto a misplaced pass from Marcelo Allende to fire past Onyango.
The second goal seemed to spur the visitors into action and they pulled one back on 61 minutes through substitute Sales, who latched onto a knockdown from Peter Shalulile and lashed the ball into the top corner of the net.
Sundowns pushed for an equaliser as the second half wore on, and Shalulile looked to turn from provider to goalscorer with a shot from inside the area that flashed over the crossbar on 70 minutes.
The Namibian striker threatened again four minutes later following good link-up play between Khuliso Mudau and Sales, but he was unable to beat Farid Ouedraogo from inside the area.
However, the Blue Wave held on for a famous victory over Sundowns to go three points clear at the top of group C.
Al Hilal (1) 2 (Abdelrahman 45+3', Girumugisha 49')
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Sales 61')
Al Hilal: F. Ouedraogo, S. Ebuela, M. Ering (O. Diouf 67'), M. Karshoum, E. Luzolo, S. Adel (A. Petrus 86'), W. Khedr (M. Kane 78'), A. Coulibaly, A. Raouf, J. Girumugisha, M. Abdelrahman (S. Adetunji 67').
Mamelodi Sundowns: D. Onyango, K. Mudau, K. Cupido, K. Ndamane, T. Sibiya (P. Shalulile 55'), M. Allende, T. Mokoena, M. Reisinho (A. Sales 46'), N. Santos (K. Lethlaku 83'), B. Leon, T. Matthews (D. Lunga 56').