Orlando Pirates reach CAF Champions League group stage as Ouaddou targets second star

Orlando Pirates reached the CAF Champions League group stages with a 5-0 aggregate victory over African Stars, giving head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou a personal milestone and renewing the club’s hopes of winning a second title.

Pirates followed up last weekend’s 1-0 first-leg win in Botswana with a commanding 4-0 victory against the Namibian champions at Orlando Amstel Arena last night.

The result secured a place in the group stages for the seventh time since the format was introduced in 1996. It also marked the first time Ouaddou has guided a team to this stage of the competition after Pirates fell short last season, when they were eliminated by St Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Progressing to the group stages of the CAF Champions League is a first for me and I think it will be an exciting challenge for me and for us as a team,” said Ouaddou.

Evidence Makgopa scored twice, with Thapelo Mokobodi and Mpho “Phopho” Padime also finding the net as Pirates completed a comprehensive victory.

Ouaddou acknowledged that his side did not have complete control during the opening 45 minutes, despite taking a two-goal lead, but said their performance improved significantly after the interval.

“Although we scored two goals in the first half, we did not have the control I wanted and maybe that was due to some stress because I do have one of the youngest teams in South Africa so it’s normal and we have to work on how we manage the emotions.

“The second half was simply perfect and we were superior to African Stars, but credit to them for testing us.”

Makgopa returns with a double

Makgopa had only recently returned from an injury which had kept him out since the beginning of the season. The Bafana Bafana striker opened his account for the 2026/2027 campaign by scoring in both halves against African Stars.

Pirates last won the CAF Champions League in 1995. They were runners-up in 2013 and reached the semi-finals in 2006 and 2024.

Their latest progress has encouraged Ouaddou to believe the club can begin aiming for another continental triumph.

The coach was pleased to see Makgopa return to the scoresheet at a key point in the campaign, with Pirates now into the group stages and able to call on a range of strikers across all competitions.