Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has decided on a surprise starting 11 to face Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers.
To advance to the group stages, the Buccaneers need to cancel Lupopo’s 3-0 lead from the first leg in Lubumbashi last weekend.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ORLANDO PIRATES VS SAINT-ELOI LUPOPO
The journey to Africa was sealed last season when the Sea Robbers finished second behind Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns last season.
In the first round of the preliminary qualifiers, Orlando Pirates dismantled Lesotho Premier League champions Lioli FC 7–0 on aggregate. Their Congolese opponents, Saint-Eloi Lupopo, only squeezed past Al-Merrikh of Sudan 1–0 over two legs.
Before the 3-0 disaster in Congo, Amabhakabhaka were walking on water: 11 wins from 14 games across all competitions, with just two losses and one draw.
Their defence was watertight too, keeping seven clean sheets while scoring 24 goals and conceding only four. Ouaddou even wrote his name into the Bucs’ history books as the first coach to win eight straight matches in charge. Lupopo shattered that invincible zone in Lubumbashi.
Meanwhile, coach Ouaddou has picked his best starting line-up for the job, with winger Oswin Appollis set to play as a false striker.
FULL STARTING LINE-UP
- Goalkeeper: Sipho Chaine
- Right back: Kamogelo Sebelebele
- Right central defender: Lebone Seema
- Left central defender: Mbekezeli Mbokazi
- Left back: Deon Hotto
- Midfielder: Sihle Nduli
- Midfielder: Masindi Nemtajela
- Midfielder: Sipho Mbule
- Forward: Tshepang Moremi
- Forward: Patrick Maswangangyi
- Forward: Oswin Appollis.
Substitutes: Melusi Buthelezi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Thabiso Lebitso, Nkosikhona Ndaba, Abdoulaye Mariko, Kabelo Dlamini, Camren Dansin, Yanela Mbuthuma, Tshegofatso Mabasa.
Also read: Orlando Pirates legend: ‘It’s possible to get four goals’