Orlando Pirates will be eyeing a spot in the CAF Champions League group stages when they host African Stars at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday evening.

The Buccaneers won the first leg 1-0 away from home and just need to avoid defeat to reach the group stages for the fourth time in the last two decades.

Pirates last won the competition in 1995 and will look to go all the way to earn their second title and claim the R100 million prize money.

Ahead of the CAF clash with African Warriors, Abdeslam Ouaddou could give Kabelo Dlamini a rare appearance. The 30-year-old has hardly played under the Moroccan coach.

Kamogelo Sebelebele, who suffered an injury against Mamelodi Sundowns earlier this year, might miss the match. He is training with the team but Ouaddou might not want to risk him ahead of the Soweto Derby.

Orlando Pirates lose coach

On Thursday, Pirates announced that head coach Mandla Ncikazi will be leaving the club.

The move follows discussions with management this morning in which Ncikazi expressed his wish to pursue the opportunity to lead a team again.

Ncikazi departs with 9 trophies earned as part of the Orlando Pirates technical team, where he served predominantly as assistant coach, including a brief spell as co-coach in 2025.

Following his departure, he was announced as the new head coach of Golden Arrows.

The Buccaneers won a treble last season, but their main goal this campaign is to win the CAF Champions League.