Orlando Pirates take on Congolese giants Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round after brushing aside Lioli FC.
In the first leg, the Buccaneers will travel away to Lubumbashi, the same city where Kaizer Chiefs will be hosted by AS Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SAINT-ELOI LUPOPO VS ORLANDO PIRATES
The Betway Premiership runners-up earned the right to this stage after brushing aside Lesotho’s Lioli FC 7-0 on aggregate.
How’s this next test? Lupopo, last season’s LinaFoot runners-up. They squeezed past Sudanese giants Al Merrikh 1-0 on aggregate to book their spot. The first leg is set for the Stade Frederick Maliba in Lubumbashi.
PLENTY OF REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE
What can we expect? For Orlando Pirates, this campaign is all about proving they belong among Africa’s elite. The Bucs faithful will remember how far the Sea Robbers sailed the continent last term, reaching the semifinals before bowing out to eventual champions Pyramids FC.
Orlando Pirates started by crushing Madagascar’s FC Disciples 4-0 on aggregate, then brushed aside Botswana giants Jwaneng Galaxy 3-0. The group stage was no breeze. Group C featured Al Ahly, CR Belouizdad and Stade Abidjan. Yet Bucs topped it with 14 points, leaving Al Ahly behind with 10 points.
The Buccaneers went even further by edging Algeria’s MC Algiers 1-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals, before Pyramids ended the dream in the semis with a narrow 3-2 win.
Now, with momentum from the domestic form and confidence from last season in Africa, Orlando Pirates are eyeing another deep run. Lupopo will be waiting at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium on the weekend of 17-18 October; full details are yet to be confirmed.