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This was Mandela's first game in the Champions League this season.
Kenyan international Brian Mandela was a late substitute as Mamelodi Sundowns maintained their 100% start to the CAF Champions League after thumping Cotonsport 3-1.
Sundowns now sit at the summit of Group A with a six-point buffer after beating Al Hilal Omdurman and Cotonsport with Al Ahly yet to play a game due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
It took just 10 minutes for Sundowns to open their scoring through Cassius Mailula who pounced onto a horrendous pass from Houzaifi Youssoufa to unleash a thunderbolt from outside the box that rippled the back of the net.
Rocked by the careless opener, Cotonsport conceded the second goal a minute later with Mailula turning provider this time as his flick was cleared off the line but the ball fell kindly for Khuliso Mudau to head it in.
Cotonsport however settled into the game and pulled one back at the stroke of the half-hour mark when Patient Wassou curled the ball in from a tight angle after beating the offside trap.
Sundowns went into the break with their two-goal cushion when that man again Mailula got to the end of a well-threaded through pass from Aubrey Modiba and fired the ball past the onrushing keeper.
The second half saw chances few and far between both teams as Sundowns resorted to protecting their lead following the healthy 3-1 scoreline in the first half, away from home.
Mandela was introduced in the dying minutes of the game in place of Sphelele Mkhulise as Sundowns successfully managed to hold on to their 3-1 win.
Sundowns next travel to Egypt to face CAF Champions League record champions Al Ahly on Saturday 25 February.
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