Orlando Pirates' aspirations in the CAF Champions League have been dealt a severe blow, leaving their progression to the group stages hanging precariously. The South African side, known as the Sea Robbers, suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the first leg of their second round preliminary qualifier, played in Lubumbashi, DRC. This heavy loss comes despite Orlando Pirates entering the match as favorites, following an impressive eight-match winning streak across all competitions.

The hosts, Saint-Eloi Lupopo, got off to an ideal start, breaking the deadlock just five minutes into the game. Congolese striker Ramos Kashala Wanet capitalized on an early opportunity, netting a composed finish past Pirates' goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, immediately putting the visitors under immense pressure. As the match progressed into the second half, the situation worsened for the Soweto giants. Substitute Kambou reacted swiftly to a loose ball inside the penalty area, drilling home his side’s second goal in the 70th minute. The tie was effectively sealed barely a minute from full-time when Jean Benoît Tukumban added a third goal, securing a dominant victory for the Congolese club and providing them with a substantial advantage heading into the return leg.

For Orlando Pirates to advance to the coveted group stages, they now face a monumental task. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team must achieve a commanding 4-0 victory in the second leg, which is scheduled to take place at their home ground, Orlando Stadium, this coming weekend. Given the caliber of their opponents, this requirement appears daunting, necessitating what many believe would be their best performance of the season to keep their CAF Champions League title hopes alive.

In preparation for this critical encounter, Coach Ouaddou made several tactical changes to the Pirates' lineup from their previous 1-0 league win over Siwelele FC. Captain Nkosinathi Sibisi returned to central defense, replacing Lebone Seema. In the attacking department, Sipho Mbule and Kamogelo Sebelebele were brought in, taking the places of Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis. The full starting eleven for the first leg featured: Sipho Chaine, Thabiso Lebitso, Deon Hotto, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sihle Nduli, Sipho Mbule, Masindi Nemtajela, Evidence Makgopa, Kamogelo Sebelebele, and Tshepang Moremi. The substitutes bench included Siyabonga Dladla, Lebone Seema, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Nkosikhona Ndaba, Abdoulaye Mariko Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi, Oswin Appollis, and Tshegofatso Mabasa.

Orlando Pirates had a relatively smoother path to this preliminary round, having convincingly dismantled Lesotho Premier League champions Lioli FC with a 7-0 aggregate victory in the first preliminary round, including a four-goal haul at home. In contrast, Saint-Eloi Lupopo endured a more challenging route, narrowly overcoming Sudan’s Al Merrikh 1-0 over two legs. The Buccaneers have a rich history in the CAF Champions League, having lifted the trophy in 1995 and consistently remaining a respected name in African football. They reached the semifinals last season (2023/24), where they narrowly fell to eventual champions Pyramids FC of Egypt with a 3-2 aggregate score. Despite this consistent presence, their recent defeat highlights the challenges of continental competition and puts their 2025/26 campaign in jeopardy.

The current situation leaves Orlando Pirates looking exposed away from home and with their Champions League dream on the brink. The upcoming second leg at Orlando Stadium will demand an extraordinary effort to overturn the significant deficit and secure a place among Africa's elite clubs in the group stages.