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Orlando Pirates’ CAF Champions League dream ended in heartbreak on Saturday as they were eliminated on penalties by DR Congo’s Saint-Eloi Lupopo, despite staging a remarkable second-leg comeback in Soweto.
The South African giants overturned a 3–0 first-leg deficit with a spirited performance, winning 3–0 in regulation time to level the tie 3–3 on aggregate. However, their efforts fell short in the shootout as Lupopo held their nerve to triumph 5–4 and book a historic place in the group stage draw set for November 3, in Johannesburg.
Masindi Nemtajela opened the scoring for Pirates before a chaotic first half saw both teams reduced to 10 men following red cards for Tshepang Moremi and Lupopo’s Cristopher Sumbu. Substitute Yanela Mbuthuma added a second in the 68th minute, and Oswin Appollis struck deep into stoppage time to complete the comeback.
In the penalty shootout, both sides converted four of their first five kicks before sudden death ensued. Berdy Matukala scored for Lupopo, leaving Mbuthuma to keep Pirates alive — but the young forward fired wide, sending the Congolese side through.
The result marks Lupopo’s first-ever qualification for the CAF Champions League group stage after four failed attempts, earning the Lubumbashi-based club a financial boost of at least $700,000 (£550,000). Pirates, meanwhile, bow out with a $100,000 appearance fee and the disappointment of missing out on continental glory.
Elsewhere, Rivers United ensured Nigerian representation in the group stage after defeating Mozambique’s Black Bulls 3–1 in Uyo, sealing a 3–2 aggregate win. Timothy Zachariah’s 76th-minute strike proved decisive for the hosts.
Defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt, the record 12-time winners, also advanced after a 1–0 victory over Burundi’s Aigle Noir in Cairo, completing a 2–0 aggregate success despite playing with 10 men for 75 minutes. Omar Kamal’s goal secured the win following Nejc Gradisar’s early dismissal.
Tanzanian side Young Africans progressed 2–1 on aggregate after defeating Malawi’s Silver Strikers 2–0 in Dar es Salaam, thanks to first-half goals from Dickson Job and Ivorian forward Pacome Zouzoua. Meanwhile, former champions JS Kabylie of Algeria, FAR Rabat of Morocco, and Petro Luanda of Angola also booked their spots in the 16-club group phase, which kicks off on 21 November.
