Mamelodi Sundowns await Teboho Mokoena scan as Ronwen Williams injury appears minor

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says he hopes Teboho Mokoena’s injury is not serious, while expecting goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to return soon after both players missed or left the club’s opening match of the 2026 CAF Champions League.

The defending champions began their campaign with a goalless draw against Angolan side Wiliete SC in the first leg of the second preliminary round on Sunday.

Mokoena was taken off on a stretcher in the 40th minute after appearing to aggravate a ligament problem he previously suffered while on international duty. The midfielder will undergo tests on Monday, 19 October, to establish the extent of the injury.

Williams was absent from the match-day squad after sustaining a minor knock during training. Ricardo Goss started in goal for Sundowns.

Cardoso said he had chosen not to risk Williams after the goalkeeper reported pain following the contact in training.

“Obviously, the maturity from Ronwen Williams, the maturity of Teboho Mokoena, is important to sustain the team,” said Cardoso.

“This team has also several young players, first start of a campaign after being champion, so always the stress to represent it in the best way. We felt that here and there was a little bit of stress.

“We were a little bit of let’s say not afraid of conceding, but to deal with those counter attacks. But yeah, Teboho, it’s a little bit of a touch on that ligament that was hurt in the national team. In the moment, we don’t know the extension of the injury, but he could not continue in the match.

“So, let’s hope it’s not a big thing, and we can recover him for the next match. Tomorrow [Monday, 19 October] he will be submitted to exams, and Ronwen should not be a big thing. He had a small contact yesterday training session, got some pain.

“It was important to keep him safe from something that could come that would be, let’s say, more aggressive or that would put him in danger for the future. But no, not really, so we expect to recover him promptly.”

The result leaves the tie level after the away leg, with Sundowns seeking to progress from the second preliminary round and continue their defence of the CAF Champions League title.