Orlando Pirates will once again face a trip to DR Congo in the CAF Champions League.
The Buccaneers will play FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo on 17 October in the first leg of the CAF CL second preliminary round. The Soweto giants reached the second round by dismantling Lioli 7-0 on aggregate.
Last season, Pirates reached the semi-final of the CAF Champions League, where they lost out to eventual winners Pyramids. This season, the Sea Robbers look stronger and are one of the favourites to reach the final.
FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo, on the other hand, defeated Sudanese giants Al Merrikh 1-0 on aggregate to reach the second round of the preliminary stages. They host Pirates in two weeks hoping for a good result at home.
Can Pirates reach the group stages of the CAF CL?
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men will need to dig deep if they are to reach the group stages of the CAF CL. They will visit Lubumbashi in the DRC to face St Eloi Lupopo after the Congolese side secured a passage to the next round against Al Merrikh.
The last time the Sea Robbers played in Lubumbashi in the Champions League, they lost 1-0 in the second leg against TP Mazembe in 2013. Despite the controversy, the Buccaneers still advanced to the group stages that year.
Orlando Pirates last won the CAF Champions League back in 1995. They came close in 2013 but lost to Al Ahly 3-1 in the final. Last season, they reached the semi-finals but lost out to another Egyptian side.
Under Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Buccaneers have won eight consecutive matches this season,, making them the team to watch not only in the Betway Premiership but also in the CAF CL.