Orlando Pirates suffered a heartbreaking exit from the CAF Champions League preliminary round despite a 3-0 victory in the second leg against Saint-Éloi Lupopo. The aggregate score ended 3-3, but Lupopo advanced after winning the penalty shootout. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou hailed his team's brave performance while blasting perceived cheating.
Orlando Pirates dominated the second leg at Esigodini in front of a near-capacity, bouncing crowd but could not overcome their 0-3 deficit from the first leg in Lubumbashi. The Buccaneers leveled the aggregate at 3-3 through goals from Masindi Nemtajela in the first half, Yanela Mbuthuma's header from a Kabelo Dlamini corner, and Oswin Appollis' strike with the last kick of the 90 minutes, forcing penalties.
The shootout proved decisive, with Pirates' Deon Hotto and Mbuthuma missing their efforts, while Kabelo Dlamini, Lebone Seema, Appollis, and Patrick Maswanganyi converted. Lupopo succeeded through Mokonzi Katumbwe, Mavungu Mbele, Kimputu Wala, Dramane Kambou, and Mavutuka Matukala, with only Mpeko Djos failing. Referee Mohamed Ali Moussa of Niger officiated, including an early yellow card to Nemtajela for simulation on a penalty claim and red cards to Tshepang Moremi of Pirates and Sambu Maniania of Lupopo following a scuffle after Nemtajela's opener—replays suggested mistaken identity for the Lupopo dismissal, as Mukoko Amale was the aggressor.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine made a key save to deny Basiala Amongo early on. Ouaddou made halftime substitutions, bringing on Dlamini and Mbuthuma for Nemtajela and Sipho Mbule to increase pressure. The loss echoes Pirates' 2023 penalty defeat to Jwaneng Galaxy and last season's semifinal exit to Pyramids FC, dealing a blow to their 2029 FIFA Club World Cup ambitions. Ouaddou questioned first-leg lineup choices, including central defense changes with Nkosinathi Sibisi replacing Seema and a thin midfield featuring Sihle Nduli, Nemtajela, and Mbule.
