Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou felt his side deserved to go through to the group stages of the CAF Champions League despite losing to Saint Eloi Lupopo on penalties on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers were beaten 3-0 away in DR Congo in the first leg this past weekend and needed to win 4-0 in the second leg to advance to the group stages.
Ouaddou’s men started the match with intent, but the Lupopo defence held firm. It took them 40 minutes to find the opener through Masindi Nemtajela.
The second goal came early in the second half after Yanela Mbuthuma headed home a corner. Pirates pushed for the third and it only came in the last minute of the match when Oswin Appollis unleashed a shot to beat the Lupopo keeper.
Pirates coach sad to crash out of CAF
Penalties were needed to separate the two teams and it was the Congolese side which emerged as 5-4 victors at the Orlando Stadium to reach the group stages of the Champions League for the first time.
Ouaddou was left disappointed after the match but applauded his team for scoring three goals.
“We can’t blame the players,” the Pirates coach told SABC Sport.
“To come back with that environment we had in Congo – but I’m very sad for them and the club as well. “The best team today did not go to the group stage of the Champions League but it’s the reality of football, we congratulate the opponent, they used their weapons.
“But the best team did not go through to the next stage of the CAF Champions League,” Ouaddou said.
The 46-year-old coach has already won the MTN8 since joining Orlando Pirates in July.
Orlando Pirates face Magesi FC next in the Carling Knockout Cup on Tuesday.