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Kaizer Chiefs face and urgent task after they lost 1–0 to Zambia’s Red Arrows in Ndola and must respond at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, with kick-off at 6pm. Picture: Backpagepix
FOUR South African clubs head into a decisive week of continental football with places in the group stages at stake — and little room for a careless night to derail their ambitions.
Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City all have work to do in the second legs of their respective CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup ties between Friday and Sunday. Their situations differ, but the objective is the same: survive the preliminary rounds and earn a place among Africa’s group-stage contenders.
The stakes extend beyond prestige. CAF has confirmed huge paydays for the Confederation Cup champions. Clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds also receive a US$100,000 subvention towards travel and logistical costs, but qualification opens the door to a much longer campaign and the rewards that come with it. The group stages are scheduled to begin in late November.
Orlando Pirates have given themselves an advantage, but it is a slender one. Tshepang Moremi’s 75th-minute goal secured a 1–0 win over Namibia’s African Stars in Gaborone, Botswana, leaving the Buccaneers to complete the job at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, October 23.
The challenge now is to avoid complacency. African Stars proved difficult to break down in the first leg, and a single goal separates the sides. Pirates will want to control the tie rather than allow their visitors to turn it into a desperate finish.
Defending Champions League holders Sundowns return home after a goalless draw against Angola’s Wiliete. Their second leg is scheduled for Friday at Loftus Versfeld, where an outright win would take them through.
The draw leaves the tie finely balanced, while Teboho Mokoena’s injury in Angola is a potential concern. The midfielder was forced off late in the match, but no news was available about his availability at the time of publication.
Sundowns will need to turn home advantage into goals against opponents who have already shown they can make life difficult for the defending champions.
Kaizer Chiefs face the more urgent task. They lost 1–0 to Zambia’s Red Arrows in Ndola and must respond at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, with kick-off at 6pm.
A two-goal victory would secure qualification outright; a 1–0 win would take the tie to penalties. Chiefs therefore need to find a way through while remaining alert to the danger of conceding again. Their margin for error is slim.
Durban City have the most comfortable first-leg cushion of the four. They beat Mauritius’ AS Port Louis 2000 by 3–1 on Sunday, with Haashim Domingo, Gastón Sirino and Tashreeq Morris on target. They travel to Mauritius for the return leg on Sunday, October 25.
But a two-goal advantage is no guarantee. Coach Eric Tinkler has warned against complacency, with wasteful finishing and the goal conceded providing reminders that City cannot afford to switch off. For a club experiencing continental football at this level for the first time, reaching the group stage would be a significant step.
The four clubs have different hurdles to clear: Pirates must protect their lead, Sundowns must break the deadlock, Chiefs must overturn a deficit and Durban City must finish the job away from home.
By Sunday, South Africa will know how many of its representatives have made it through. The ambition is shared; the test is whether each club can handle the pressure when qualification is on the line.
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