1-0 winners in the first leg thanks to forward Tshepang Moremi, Orlando Pirates host African Stars this Friday in Soweto in the second leg of the second preliminary round. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou refuses to see qualification as a done deal.
One small goal, and a big memory to exorcise. Orlando Pirates welcome Namibia’s African Stars this Friday 23 October 2026 at 20:00 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto for the second leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round. In the first leg, the Buccaneers won 1-0, according to Afrik-Foot.
That win bore the signature of forward Tshepang Moremi, who scored in the 75th minute. A minimal advantage that the South African club will have to defend in front of their own fans, having been eliminated at this very stage of the competition last season.
Ouaddou refuses to call it won
Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has spent the week urging his squad not to underestimate African Stars. According to Afrik-Foot, the manager said qualification was far from secured despite the first-leg win.
That message echoes a painful memory. Last season, Pirates were eliminated at this exact stage of the competition on penalties by FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo), despite a 3-0 scoreline in the second leg. The memory still haunts the Buccaneers’ supporters.
A ticket to the group stage
According to Afrik-Foot, a win or a draw will be enough for Orlando Pirates to secure their ticket to the lucrative group stage of the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League.
The match will be shown free-to-air: South African public broadcaster SABC has confirmed it has acquired the rights, The South African reports.
A busy Friday night in Johannesburg
On the same evening, Kaizer Chiefs also play a decisive CAF Confederation Cup match, according to The South African, offering an exceptional Friday night of African football in Johannesburg.
For Pirates, the mission is clear: keep the advantage gained in Gaborone and prevent African Stars from coming back. The draw for the CAF Champions League group stage is due to take place after the end of the preliminary rounds.