Nigeria’s League champions, Remo Stars, noticed their CAF Champions League dream finish on Sunday after a 7-1 mixture defeat to South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns within the second preliminary spherical.
The return leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria completed 2-0 in favour of the hosts, confirming the gulf in expertise between the 2 sides.
Sundowns, five-time South African champions and 2016 African kings, have been in management from the outset. With goalkeeper Ronwen Williams rested, veteran Denis Onyango began between the sticks, whereas Peter Shalulile and new signing Nuno Santos led the assault.
Their dominance was rapidly informed, as Santos mixed fantastically with Aubrey Modiba to attain his first objective for the membership within the twentieth minute.
Remo Stars, looking for redemption after their 5-1 dwelling loss in Abeokuta, tried to regular themselves halfway via the primary half.
A well-worked brief nook noticed Ebuka Anthony and Adama Goita mix, however their effort failed to hassle Onyango.
Simply earlier than halftime, Shalulile doubled Sundowns’ benefit with a exact end after a flowing transfer via midfield, successfully ending any hopes of a Nigerian comeback.
Within the second half, Sundowns maintained management, dictating tempo with fluid passing and positional self-discipline.
The introduction of Bathusi Aubaas and Lebo Mothiba added contemporary power, because the South Africans sought to guard their lead whereas probing for extra targets.
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Remo Stars, to their credit score, confirmed combat within the last quarter. Substitute Samson Olasupo went shut with a looping effort, whereas a deflected strike from the precise flank clipped the put up, drawing applause from the Pretoria crowd.
Regardless of the heavy mixture loss, the efficiency marked one other studying curve for Daniel Ogunmodede’s younger aspect.
Taking part in their fourth consecutive continental marketing campaign, the Sky Blue Stars’ journey has been a gradual schooling in African soccer’s calls for.
After earlier heartbreaks in opposition to AS FAR and Medeama SC, this encounter with one of many continent’s elite additional uncovered the hole Nigeria’s rising champions should bridge.
For Sundowns, the consequence was routine professionalism — one other ticket to the group phases, one other marker of continental ambition.
