Sundowns, Pirates Find Out CAF Opponents

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JOHANNESBURG: Pirates are back in the Champions League and hunting for their second continental crown since winning the competition in 1995.

DSTV Premiership representatives in the CAF Champions League Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have learned their opponents for the second preliminary round.

To be part of the 16 clubs in the Champions League group stages, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs have to navigate the second preliminary round unscathed.

Pirates, who are back in the Champions League and hunting for their second continental crown since winning the competition in 1995, booked their second-round spot by defeating Djibal Football Club, a side from the Comoros, 4-0 on aggregate in the first round of the preliminaries.

While the Soweto giants had to fight for the second preliminary round spot, Mamelodi Sundowns received a bye in the first round. Jose Riveiro’s Buccaneers will journey up to neighbouring Botswana, where they will face Morena Ramoreboli’s Jwaneng Galaxy on 15 September.

Two weeks later, they will play hosts to Jwaneng. Ramoreboli’s side bested Vipers from Uganda 3-2 on aggregate to set up the second-round encounter with Pirates. Meanwhile, the DSTV Premiership champions are set to travel to Burundi in the first leg on 15 September to clash with Bumamuru, who defeated Gabonese side Bendje 6-2 on aggregate to advance to the second round. The second leg will be played on 29 September.

Much is expected from Rulani Mokwena’s Sundowns, who have been bossing a competition in the PSL for over the past six seasons, to further spread their dominance in the African continent.

Sundowns were unfortunate to not make it to the finals in the 2022/23 Champions League season. They were eliminated by Wydad Athletic Club, a Moroccan side, in the semi-finals. Therefore, they would want to not only improve on their last season’s finish but also add their second continental star.

Both Pirates and Sundowns would have to strike the balance between domestic cup competitions (the league and the knockout competitions) and the Champions League in a gruelling schedule if they make it into the group stages next month.