Mamelodi Sundowns’ unbeaten run in the CAF Champions League came to a halt in Rwanda as Al Hilal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a tense Group C clash on Saturday evening.

The Sudanese side, playing their “home” fixture in Rwanda due to ongoing sanctions, made the most of their chances with Abdel Rahman and Girrumugisha finding the back of the net, putting Sundowns under early pressure.

Despite dominating possession for large parts of the game, the South African champions struggled to break through Al Hilal’s compact defense. The hosts were clinical on the counter, and it showed.

In the dying minutes, Arthur Sales pulled one back for Sundowns, a sharp finish that gave fans a glimmer of hope, but it proved too little, too late. The Brazilians couldn’t find the equalizer as Al Hilal held on to claim all three points and keep their CAF Champions League hopes alive.

The result means Sundowns will need to regroup quickly as the Group C standings tighten. With crucial fixtures ahead, every point will count in the race for qualification to the knockout stages.