Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has cautioned his team to be careful despite taking a first-leg advantage over Angola's Petro de Luanda.

The South African side claimed a 2-0 win over Petro away from home on Sunday in their opening game of the African Football League.

Sundowns are in pole position to secure qualification into the next round of the competition with a 1-0 defeat at home even enough to take them through.

However, Mokwena has charged his boys to stay focused as they could be punished should they be complacent.

"I draw the players' attention to a recent Cup match here in South Africa. We trailed 2-0 at the break, only to level the score in the second half," he said after the game.

"It took us 45 minutes to net those two. This Petro match is essentially at its halftime, with another 90 minutes waiting in Pretoria."

The coach emphasised the importance of being grounded and concentrating.

"Football history is rife with dramatic comebacks. We'll tackle the upcoming match as if it's starting from scratch."

"Facing a well-organized team, our side effectively managed to counter their tactics," Mokwena added.

"I must acknowledge that some of our initial strategies were not on point, necessitating tweaks in the latter half. The credit for adapting and performing goes to the players," he expressed.

Sundowns see the AFL as a huge opportunity for Mokwena and his side, with their sights set on adding another Continental crown to their 2016 CAF Champions League victory.