Stade d’Abidjan’s CAF Champions League journey ended in disappointment on Saturday as they fell 3-0 to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in a one-sided Group C encounter.
The Ivorian side struggled throughout the game at Orlando Stadium, confirming their elimination from the competition after a string of poor results.
The hosts dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, applying relentless pressure on Stade d’Abidjan. Relebohile Mofokeng put the Pirates ahead in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on their dominance in the early stages.
The Ivorians, nicknamed the Yéyés, offered little in response, managing just one shot on target out of six attempts in the entire match.
Hopes of a second-half resurgence were dashed shortly after the interval when Patrick Maswanganyi doubled Orlando Pirates’ lead.
Despite several tactical changes by Stade d’Abidjan’s coach Serge Alain Douayéré, the adjustments failed to make an impact on the game’s outcome.
As the match neared its conclusion, Deon Hotto added a third goal for the South African side, cementing their commanding performance and leaving the Ivorian visitors with no way back.
The defeat leaves Stade d’Abidjan at the bottom of Group C with a single point from four matches.
Their aspirations of returning to prominence on the continental stage, 50 years after their last significant achievement, have been dashed.
Stade d’Abidjan now face a dead-rubber match against Al Ahly next week, where pride will be the only stake for the Ivorian team.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates strengthened their position in the group and remain well-placed to advance to the knockout stages.
This latest setback underscores Stade d’Abidjan’s struggles to adapt to the high-level demands of the CAF Champions League.
For Orlando Pirates, the victory serves as a testament to their growing momentum as they aim to secure their place among the tournament’s elite.
