Eight-goal Sundowns just miss equalling their African record

Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa trounced La Passe of the Seychelles 8-1 on Friday, but just missed equalling the record overall winning margin for a CAF Champions League qualifier.

Sundowns won the last 32 tie 15-1 on aggregate having beaten the Indian Ocean part-timers 7-0 last weekend in the first leg.

Both matches were staged in Pretoria because La Passe lack an international-standard stadium and conceded home advantage in the first encounter.

The record 16-1 margin for a Champions League qualifier was achieved by Sundowns in the 2020 edition when they thrashed another Seychellois club, Cote d'Or 11-1 at home and 5-0 away.

Cassius Mailula and Gift Motupa scored twice each for the South African outfit, Thapelo Morena, Hashim Domingo and Neo Maema once and Passe goalkeeper Dave Mussard conceded an own goal.

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Malagasy Florent Rajaoniasy netted for Passe, whose line-up included a chef, a fireman, an accountant and a father and son, Dave Mussard, 35, and teenage defender Derold Mussard.

Having conceded a goal inside a minute last weekend, Passe initially fared better in the second leg and recovered from falling behind to equalise through a Rajaoniasy header.

Sundowns regained the initiative to go 3-1 up by half-time and the floodgates opened in the final 20 minutes when they added five goals.

The former African champions were joined in the group stage by five-time title-holders Zamalek of Egypt, Petro Luanda of Angola and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria.

'Zizo' hat-trick

Ahmed 'Zizo' Sayed scored a hat-trick as Zamalek followed up a solitary-goal away win over Flambeau Centre of Burundi with a 5-1 victory in Alexandria.

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'Zizo' scored twice in the previous round and his overall tally places him second in the Golden Boot race behind seven-goal Fiston Mayele from Young Africans of Tanzania.

After falling behind in the second minute, Flambeau levelled through Leonard Gakwaya, raising hopes of a shock outcome.

But Senegalese Ibrahima Ndiaye and 'Zizo' netted before half-time and the latter completed his treble and Youssef Nabih also scored in the closing stages.

Virtually assured of progressing after a 3-0 away win, Petro found Cape Town City of South Africa harder to break down in Luanda, with Cabibi delivering a 1-0 win via an 87th-minute goal.

Petro were the surprise packets of the last edition, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

Belouizdad secured a third straight mini-league appearance thanks to a 2-0 win over Malian visitors Djoliba, who took a one-goal lead into the return match.

Another six second legs are scheduled for Saturday and five for Sunday, when Wydad will attempt to overcome a 2-1 deficit when they host Rivers United of Nigeria.

Source: AFP