Mamelodi Sundowns sent a powerful message to the rest of Africa on Sunday with a commanding 5 1 victory over Remo Stars at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. The result not only stunned the home crowd but also entered the record books as the heaviest home defeat ever suffered by a Nigerian club in any CAF competition.
The South African giants were ruthless from start to finish, punishing every error by the Nigerian champions with precision and calmness that silenced the stands before the final whistle.
For Remo Stars, the afternoon began with promise but quickly turned into a nightmare they will not forget.
Sundowns, who had scored only twice in their previous three visits to Nigeria, tore through the Sky Blue Stars’ defense with ease, netting four times before adding a fifth late in the game to complete a humiliating rout.
Remo started brightly, pressing high and looking for an early goal. Adama Goita’s low shot was deflected wide and Victor Mbaoma almost capitalized on a defensive slip moments later. But their early spark faded fast.
In the 12th minute, Neo Maema released Lesiba Nku, who squared for Thapelo Matthews to slot calmly past goalkeeper Obassa Adebiyi. The goal quieted the home supporters and marked the beginning of Sundowns’ dominance.
Remo tried to respond through Goita and Ahmed Akinyele, while Mbaoma forced Ronwen Williams into a save, yet their efforts lacked the finishing touch needed to trouble the visitors.
Sundowns doubled their lead before halftime through Peter Shalulile, who punished another defensive error with a close range finish. By the break, Remo’s structure was gone and their confidence badly shaken.
After the restart, Miguel Cardozo’s men tightened their grip. Khuliso Mudau’s surging run down the right flank in the 61st minute set up Miguel Reinildo, who fired home his first goal in African competition to make it 3 0.
With the hosts in disarray, substitute Arthur Sales added a fourth in the 75th minute after a slick team move that ripped through Remo’s defense.
Two minutes later, Samson Olasupo gave the fans a brief reason to cheer, cutting inside to beat Williams after a clever pass from Goita. The consolation goal did little to lift spirits, as Sundowns remained in control.
The visitors capped off their masterclass in the 87th minute when Tsiki Nsabeleng, a South African of Nigerian descent, came off the bench to score his first senior goal for the club following a Mothiba assist.
When the referee added four minutes of stoppage time, the contest was long over.
The 5 1 defeat stands as a dark chapter in Nigerian club football, marking the first time a team from the country has conceded five goals at home in a continental competition.
Remo’s usually disciplined defense, which had looked solid against US Zilimadjou of Comoros in the previous round, was dismantled by Sundowns’ pace, intelligence, and superior coordination.
For coach Daniel Ogunmodede, it was a harsh lesson in the realities of top level African football. His side, chasing their first ever CAF Champions League group stage qualification, now face an almost impossible task of overturning a four goal deficit in Pretoria on October 26.
Despite spirited performances from Mbaoma, Goita, and Olasupo, Remo’s defensive lapses proved fatal.
As the whistle blew, Sundowns celebrated a record breaking triumph that could reignite their season, while Remo Stars walked off the pitch to stunned silence from their supporters. The return leg may now be little more than a formality.
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