Al-Hilal secured a deserved 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the fourth round of the CAF Champions League group stage at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, reaching 8 points to lead their group.
The first half was tightly contested, with Al-Hilal dominating attacks through Jean Claude and Koulibaly on the wings and Mohamed Abdelrahman in the center. In the final minute, Al-Hilal won a penalty after Abdelraouf drew a foul from the Sundowns goalkeeper, allowing captain Mohamed Abdelrahman to score, ending the half 1-0.
Early in the second half, Jean Claude extended the lead with a spectacular strike from outside the box. Substitute Salis pulled one back for Sundowns, but the visitors were repeatedly denied by Al-Hilal’s organized defense and alert goalkeeper. Koulibaly came close to scoring a third with a brilliant solo effort.
Al-Hilal held firm to secure the 2-1 victory, a vital win over one of Africa’s top clubs.
In the fifth round, Al-Hilal will face MC Alger in Algeria, while Sundowns will host AS Saint-Louisienne of the Democratic Republic of Congo.