Orlando Pirates' Next CAF Champions League Opponent Confirmed

• Orlando Pirates have been handed a tough opponent in the next round of the preliminary stage of the CAF Champions League
• The Premier Soccer League giants qualified for the second round of the preliminary phase after defeating Lesotho giants Lioli FC in the first round
• The Buccaneers' supporters expressed their views on their club's next opponent in their continental football competition on social media

Orlando Pirates are one of the teams to qualify for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after defeating Lesotho side Lioli FC in the first round of the competition.

The Soweto giants progressed to the next round by thumping Lioli FC 7-0 on aggregate in the opening round and are currently on an impressive eight-match winning streak across all competitions, with their last win coming against Siwelele FC in the Carling Knockout Cup.

The Sea Robbers reached the CAF Champions League semi-final last season but failed to qualify for the final after losing to Pyramids FC, the winners of the competition.

Read also

Kaizer Chiefs’ woes deepen as they bow out of the Carling Knockout Cup

They are hoping to better their performance from last season by winning the tournament, but they first need to get past their new opponents in the second preliminary round.

Pirates’ next opponent in CAF Champions League

The Soweto giants will now face Congolese side, Saint-Eloi Lupopo, in the second preliminary round of the competition. Lupopo, meanwhile, secured their progression after holding Al-Merrikh to a goalless draw in Saturday’s return leg, having claimed a 1-0 victory in the first encounter against the Sudanese club.

Pirates will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first leg on October 18, 2025, before hosting Lupopo in the return fixture at Orlando Stadium a week later.

Abdeslam Ouaddou and his team are currently in great form and are expected to secure a place in the group phase of the CAF Champions League this season.

Pirates supporters have shared their thoughts on facing the Congolese giants in the second preliminary round of the Champions League.

wanaSisConny commented:

"We used to play these ones in the vodacom challenge, what happened to them through the years?"

Read also

Barker says Stellenbosch ready and energised for Carling Knockout tie with Kaizer Chiefs

Bheki_khupe shared:

"Why are we getting a decent team so early this time? I thought we were gonna get fishermen😉.'

Ntando.Kubeka implied:

"St Eloi Lupopo is on form. Their recent games , they have been performing very well. It will be a tough one for Pirates."

JustTrish_23 said:

"Yhooo, they defeated Al Merriekh. But I prefer a trip to Lubumbashi than Sudan. Both tough teams though."

g_divrgnt_memes reacted:

"Yellow... We don't like that colour. M. We'll beat them for looking like Sundowns."

Arlie Marr added:

"This will be a difficult one. These guys don't concede any goals. Neither do we."

Ouaddou: Why I'm not satisfied

Briefly News also reported that Ouaddou explains why he's not yet satisfied despite Orlando Pirates' recent good performance in all competitions.

The Moroccan tactician started slowly with the Bucs, but has led the club to a positive run in their recent games.

Source: Briefly News