Namibia’s African Stars are determined to get a positive result from the first leg of their African Champions League second round clash against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, coach Gerald Guther told local media.

Stars host Pirates in the opening leg at the National Stadium in Gaborone because there are no stadia in Namibia up to the standard required for international competition by the Confederation of African Football.

“Our objective is to compete for a victory in Gaborone and put ourselves in the strongest possible position ahead of the return match in Johannesburg,” said Guther, who has replaced former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo as the coach after Kanalelo left to take over struggling Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership.

The second leg will be at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto next Friday, 23 and the winner of the tie advances to the lucrative group phase of the continent’s top club competition.

“We know the challenge that awaits us away from home, so we will approach Saturday’s match with ambition, discipline and a clear determination to get a positive result,” Guther told the Namibian newspaper on Thursday.

Stars upset Mangasport of Gabon in the first round, after which Kanalelo quit, and because the Namibian league does not kick off until next weekend, Guther has had no official games in charge of the team.

But he said he had increased the intensity of training in a bid to be fit for the clash.

“Orlando Pirates have already played 14 competitive matches this season, so they have considerable match rhythm and while losing a final (the MTN8 against Sundowns in Durban last Saturday) is undoubtedly disappointing, a team of their quality will be mentally prepared to respond,” Guther said.

“We cannot base our approach on their previous result. Our focus is on ourselves, our preparation and how we can compete effectively,” he added.

South Africa’s representatives in African club competition are all honing in on a bumper Friday night bonanza on October 23 when Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates all plan to host the second leg of their second round ties.

In the African Champions League, holders Sundowns will be playing against Wiliete of Angola and are away in Lubango on Sunday, October 18 in the first leg of their second round tie.

The return is set for a 6pm kickoff on Friday, October 25 at Loftus Versfeld.

At the same time, Pirates will be hosting the second leg of their second round against African Stars of Namibia at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The first leg is being hosted in Gaborone on Saturday, October 17 where the Namibians are forced to switch their match to because there is no stadium up to international standard in Namibia.

Chiefs had a bye in the first round of the African Confederation Cup and so make their bow in the second round against Zambian air force club Red Arrows.

The first leg is away in Ndola on October 17 while the return is being played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban – again on Friday with a 6pm kick off.

Durban City are at home in the first leg of the Confederation Cup tie against AS Port Louis 2000 of Mauritius, which will be at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday, October 18.

The return is set for Mauritius on Sunday, October 25.

The winners of all the second round ties qualify for the group phase of the two competitions.

The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 enters a decisive phase next month when the Second Preliminary Round gets underway, with some of Africa’s biggest clubs facing potentially difficult assignments for the 16 places in the group stage.

Following the completion of the First Preliminary Round over the weekend, the field has been narrowed and the successful clubs will now be joined by defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance and RS Berkane, who received byes into this stage.

The first legs of the Second Preliminary Round will be played from 16-18 October, with the return matches scheduled for 23-25 October. The 16 winners will advance to the group stage, which begins at the end of November.

One of the most intriguing Second Preliminary Round ties will see holders Mamelodi Sundowns begin their title defence against Angola’s Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela.

Wiliete made an emphatic statement in the opening round by eliminating Foresters FC of Seychelles 5-0 on aggregate, with Angola international Mabululu scoring three of their five goals.

Egyptian giants Zamalek were among the most convincing performers of the First Preliminary Round, completing a 6-1 aggregate victory over AS Port of Djibouti after a 4-0 win in the return leg.

Their reward is a meeting with Rwanda’s APR FC, who produced an impressive turnaround to eliminate Aigles du Congo. After losing the opening leg 1-0, APR responded with a 3-0 victory in Kigali to progress 3-1 on aggregate.

Another heavyweight entering the competition at this stage is four-time champions Espérance, who will meet Libya’s Al-Swehly.

The Libyan side demonstrated their ambitions by comfortably eliminating KVZ of Zanzibar, following their 1-0 first-leg success with a 3-0 victory to advance 4-0 on aggregate.

Former champions Pyramids FC were also among the outstanding performers of the opening round.

The Egyptian side followed their 2-0 victory away to Gor Mahia with a commanding 5-1 home win, completing a 7-1 aggregate triumph.

They now meet South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu, who were equally impressive in their opening assignment, eliminating Heegan FC 4-0 on aggregate.

Tanzania’s Simba SC also produced one of the biggest victories of the First Preliminary Round. After winning 1-0 away to Mighty Wanderers in Malawi, Simba turned on the style in the return leg with a 6-1 victory, progressing 7-1 on aggregate.

Their Second Preliminary Round opponents are Nigerian champions Rangers, who survived one of the tightest ties of the opening round against AS Sobemap of Benin, eventually prevailing on penalties.

One of the headline fixtures will come in DR Congo, where five-time African champions TP Mazembe face Tunisia’s Club Africain.

Mazembe defeated Ghana’s Medeama in both legs, winning 1-0 away before recording a 3-1 home victory to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Club Africain had a more difficult route, following their 1-0 first-leg victory over Djoliba with a 2-2 draw in Mali to progress 3-2 overall.

The meeting between two former African champions promises to be among the most anticipated contests of the round.

There will also be considerable interest in the meeting between MC Alger and FC San Pedro, while Morocco’s MAS de Fès face Ivory Coast giants ASEC Mimosas.

MC Alger delivered one of the biggest second-leg performances, beating ASN Nigelec 5-0, while MAS de Fès protected the advantage from their emphatic 4-1 first-leg victory over Rahimo by holding the Burkina Faso side goalless in the return.

South Africa’s Orlando Pirates will continue their campaign against Namibia’s African Stars after defeating La Cure Waves of Mauritius 3-1 on aggregate.

African Stars progressed following a dramatic contest with Gabon’s Mangasport, while Pirates will be looking to build on their 3-1 home victory in the return leg against La Cure Waves.

Moroccan giants RS Berkane, another of the clubs given a bye, will begin their campaign against Star Sport Academy of Sierra Leone, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman face Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna.

There is also an intriguing meeting between Young Africans and Madagascar’s CFFA, while Algeria’s Al-Merreikh face Guinea’s Horoya AC, who overturned a first-leg deficit against JS Saoura with an impressive 3-1 return-leg victory.

Meanwhile, one First Preliminary Round tie remains outstanding, with Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto holding a commanding 4-0 advantage over Fomboni FC of Comoros following their first-leg victory on 11 September.

The return leg is scheduled for 3 October, with the winners advancing to face Tanzania’s Simba SC in the Second Preliminary Round.

With only one round now separating the remaining clubs from the group stage, the Second Preliminary Round is set to provide another demanding test of continental pedigree, form and ambition.

There will be plenty at stake as the clubs continue their pursuit of Africa’s biggest club prize and the record USD 6 million awarded to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners.

CAF will also provide USD 100 000 to clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds to assist with travel and other logistical costs, part of measures aimed at easing the financial burden of participating in continental competition.

TOTALENERGIES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2026/27 – Second Preliminary Round fixtures

First legs: 16-18 October 2026 | Return legs: 23-25 October 2026

African Stars (Namibia) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

APR FC (Rwanda) v Zamalek (Egypt)

Al-Swehly (Libya) v Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)

CFFA (Madagascar) v Young Africans (Tanzania)

El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) v Pyramids FC (Egypt)

Horoya AC (Guinea) v Al-Merriekh (Sudan)

Maghreb Fès (Morocco) v ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo) v Club Africain (Tunisia)

Rangers International (Nigeria) v MC Alger (Algeria)

San Pedro (Ivory Coast) v Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) v Petro Atlético (Angola)

Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia) v Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) v RS Berkane (Morocco)

Teungueth FC (Senegal) v Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)

Wiliete (Angola) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Simba (Tanzania) v 15 de Agosto (GNQ) or Fomboni FC (COM)

The elimination of Nigerian club Rivers United on Sunday was the biggest shock in the first qualifying round for the CAF Champions League.

Having forced a 1-1 draw away to Ivory Coast outfit San Pedro in the first leg last weekend, Rivers were expected to use home advantage and reach the final elimination stage.

But the Nigerians fell two goals behind after just 18 minutes before penalties late in each half, converted by Chijioke Mbaoma and Iyowuna Douglas, produced a 2-2 draw.

Away goals count double in Africa when clubs finish level on aggregate so San Pedro advanced as they scored twice in Nigeria while Rivers netted only once in the Ivory Coast.

Rivers have consistently struggled in the Champions League – this was the fourth time in five attempts that they failed to reach the group phase.

San Pedro now face Nouadhibou, a Mauritanian club that eliminated Ugandan rivals Vipers on away goals and are making a ninth consecutive appearance in the leading African club competition.

All seven former champions in the first round progressed, but ASEC Mimosas, the other contenders from the Ivory Coast, had to come from behind to eliminate ASC Kara from Togo.

D'avila Sou converted two second-half penalties for ASEC after Yabouri Yendoubouame had put Kara ahead in the final minute of the opening period.

ASEC advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will face Moroccan side MAS Fes in what is set to be a highlight of the second round during October.

Pyramids, a Cairo club coached by South African Rulani Mokwena, followed up a 2-0 away win over Gor Mahia of Kenya in the first leg by winning 5-1 at home.

Moroccan Walid El Karti began the rout with a 27th-minute goal and Mahmoud Zalaka completed a painful outing for the Nairobi side by netting in the first minute of added time.

On Saturday, the other Egyptian contenders, five-time Champions League winners Zamalek, achieved a predictable 4-0 victory over AS Port of Djibouti to finish 6-1 winners overall.

What made the match special was 41-year-old midfielder Abdallah El Said scoring a 12-minute hat-trick in the first half.

Nigerian club Enugu Rangers scraped into the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League on Friday by beating Benin outfit AS Sobemap 5-4 on penalties.

The shootout followed a second 1-1 draw between the teams, this time in Togo capital Lome because Benin lacks an international-standard stadium.

After the 2-2 aggregate tie, Enugu missed their first shootout penalty, then converted five in a row. African debutants Sobemap missed their third and sixth kicks.

Chidozie Iwundu had put Enugu ahead midway through the first half of the first round, second leg and Emmanuel Ali equalised halfway into the second period.

Hoping to be the first African champions from Nigeria since Enyimba in 2004, Enugu will face Mouloudia Alger of Algeria or Nigelec of Niger in the final qualifying round during October.

Another decisive day at #TotalEnergiesCAFCL comes to an end. 👇 pic.twitter.com/rlJSNYenRt

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) September 11, 2026

Burkinabe Djibril Ouattara bagged a brace as Rwandan club APR trounced Aigles from the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in Kigali to overturn a 1-0 first-leg loss last weekend.

Ouattara struck after 32 minutes, Christian Ishimwe doubled the lead on 58 minutes and captain Ouattara converted a 75th-minute penalty.

APR are set to face five-time African champions Zamalek of Egypt next. The Cairo club hold a 2-1 aggregate lead over AS Port of Djibouti and host the return match on Saturday.

Mauritian league giants La Cure Waves SC have received a sponsorship boost after holding Orlando Pirates in the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League tie last Sunday.

Spokesperson for the islanders Jessen Barbier confirmed to SuperSport.com on Thursday that their home goalless draw against the South African giants attracted sponsors, including from leading motor dealers Suzuki Axess and top supermarket Intermart.

“After our home game against Orlando Pirates, La Cure Waves announced this sponsorship. La Cure Waves is now sponsored by Suzuki and Intermart. This started from the day we played Orlando Pirates,” he said.

1995 African champions meet continental debutants.@orlandopirates begin their CAF Champions League campaign in Mauritius against La Cure Waves, a club that has risen from the second tier to national champions in just three years.#CAFChampionsLeague #OrlandoPirates pic.twitter.com/FklxsWtVyr

— Thomas Mlambo (@thomasmlambo) September 6, 2026

He said the sponsors have since dressed the team for the return leg against Pirates by buying team tracksuits, jerseys and travelling bags.

In an earlier statement, Suzuki confirmed their support to the Mauritian league defending champions soon after their barren draw with the Buccaneers at Côte-d’Or National Sports Complex in Port Louis.

“We are incredibly proud to support a local team taking Mauritian football onto the African stage. All the best to La Cure Waves FC for the next match. Mauritius stands behind you,” the statement reads.

Waves SC have since arrived in Johannesburg ahead of the first preliminary round second leg match at Orlando Amstel Stadium on Saturday.

𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓_𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇

🏆 #𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐂𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐋 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 (𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠)
🆚 La Cure Waves
🏟️ Orlando Amstel Arena
🎟 https://t.co/dKHNvaqAC1
🗓 Saturday, 12 September 2026
⏰ 15H00

⚫⚪🔴⭐#TotalEnergiesCAFCL#OrlandoPirates… pic.twitter.com/udMWH5kyXn

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 9, 2026

The Betway Premiership champions and their Mauritian counterparts can progress to the second round of the Champions League with any win.

Saturday’s rematch will kick off at 3pm South African time and 5pm Mauritian time