CAF CL: AFL winners Sundowns get on to a thumping start against Nouadhibou
Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, Namibian Peter Shalulile and Uruguayan Gaston Sirino scored as Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa cruised to a 3-0 CAF Champions League win over Nouadhibou of Mauritania on Sunday.
Ribeiro fired into the corner of the net after 23 minutes of a Group A first round match staged in 35 degree Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) heat in Pretoria.
Shalulile rose unopposed to head the second goal five minutes later at Loftus Versfeld, a 52,000 seat stadium Sundowns share with the Bulls rugby team.
Mauritanian goalkeeper Babacar Diop was red-carded for dashing off his line 20 minutes from time and recklessly fouling Sirino, who converted the resultant free-kick.
The outcome was predictable as there is a vast gap between Sundowns and Nouadhibou in African competitions.
Sundowns won the Champions League in 2016 and reached the knock-out stage in six of the following seven editions. They also won the inaugural African Football League two weeks ago.
Nouadhibou are debuting in the 16-club group stage having failed to qualify in seven previous attempts.
In the other Group A match Pyramids of Egypt edged TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in Cairo on Friday thanks to a goal from South African Fagrie Lakay.
