Pirates, Sundowns and Chiefs learn CAF competition opponents

South Africa’s clubs have discovered the teams they must overcome to reach the group stages of the CAF inter-club competitions.

Orlando Pirates will play Namibian champions African Stars in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, while Mamelodi Sundowns have been drawn against Angola’s Wiliete SC.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Kaizer Chiefs will meet Zambia’s Red Arrows. Durban City will face AS Port Louis of Mauritius after eliminating Burundi’s Rukinzo 3-1 on aggregate.

Pirates set for African Stars challenge

Pirates secured their place in the next round with a 3-1 home win over Le Cure Waves SC on Saturday. The Buccaneers progressed by the same aggregate score after the opening match in Mauritius ended goalless.

Their next opponents, African Stars, advanced in dramatic fashion against Gabonese club AS Mangasport.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo guided the Namibian champions to a 2-0 victory at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday. Lawrence Doeseb and Liam April scored to bring the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, after African Stars had lost the first leg 3-1 in Gabon.

The Namibian side went through on the away-goals rule.

Pirates are expected to travel to African Stars for the first leg between 16 and 18 October. The return match is scheduled for the following weekend.

Sundowns face Wiliete

Reigning African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will begin their campaign against Wiliete SC, who comfortably defeated Seychelles club Foresters FC 5-0 on aggregate.

Wiliete established control of the tie with a 4-0 first-leg victory. Mabululu scored twice, while former Pirates winger Gilberto and Cesar Cangue were also on the scoresheet.

Mabululu added another goal in the return fixture as the Angolan club completed a 1-0 win.

Wiliete finished second in the Girabola last season and have started the new campaign strongly, winning their opening three matches. They now face a Sundowns team seeking a return to the CAF Champions League group stages and another challenge for the continent’s leading club prize.

Chiefs drawn against Red Arrows

Kaizer Chiefs will meet Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Zambian club, known as the Airmen, reached the second preliminary round after beating Madagascar’s FC Rouge 4-0 on aggregate.

Chiefs were exempted from the opening preliminary round and will start their continental campaign against familiar opposition from Southern Africa.

Durban City also progressed after their 3-1 aggregate victory over Rukinzo. Their reward is a tie against Mauritian side AS Port Louis.

The first legs in the second preliminary round of both competitions will take place between 16–18 October, with the return matches scheduled for 23–25 October. The teams that win each tie on aggregate will qualify for the group stages of their respective tournaments.