The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has delightful news for Orlando Pirates followers. SABC Sport will broadcast the second round preliminary first leg game live on SABC 2.
Kick-off is set for 15:00 at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH ON SABC 2
While African Stars are the Namibian champions, the match has been moved to Botswana because Namibia does not have a stadium that meets CAF requirements.
African Stars reached this stage of the second preliminary round after coming from behind against AS Mangasport.
ORLANDO PIRATES SHOW CHARACTER
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s Sea Robbers went down to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final last weekend. However, they responded with a spirited 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership midweek.
Midfielder of the Season Oswin Appollis faces a late injury test. The 24-year-old was taken off on a stretcher midweek. Coach Ouaddou could start with Ghampani Lungu or Kabelo Kgositsile at left wing.
DID YOU KNOW?
Orlando Pirates made history in 1995 when they became the first South African club to win the CAF Champions League, then known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs.
The Buccaneers defeated Ivory Coast’s ASEC Mimosas 1-0 in Abidjan after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Johannesburg. Pirates remained the only South African club to win the competition until Mamelodi Sundowns claimed their maiden title in 2016.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST SEASON?
Orlando Pirates were knocked out in the second round preliminary qualifiers of the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League.
- Lioli FC 0-3 Orlando Pirates
- Orlando Pirates 4 -0 Lioli FC (Orlando Pirates won 7-0 on aggregate)
- FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo 3 -0 Orlando Pirates
- Orlando Pirates 3- 0 FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo (3-3 on aggregate; FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo won 5-4 on penalties).
Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League over the past five seasons:
- 2025/26: Second Preliminary Round (Eliminated by FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo)
- 2024/25: Semi-Finals
- 2023/24: Second Preliminary Round (Eliminated by Jwaneng Galaxy)
- 2022/23: Did not qualify (Played in the CAF Confederation Cup.
HOW FAR DO YOU EXPECT THE BUCCANEERS TO GO THIS SEASON?
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