African Stars pair set for Orlando Pirates test in CAF Champions League

Lyema Dopolo and Liam April will draw on their shared experience away from home when African Stars face Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

The Namibian champions meet the South African giants in the second preliminary round first leg at the National Stadium in Gaborone, with kick-off at 3PM.

Dopolo and April live together in Windhoek, share a room while on camp and have helped each other adapt to life in Namibia. They will now attempt to help African Stars produce an upset against Pirates, with a place in the group stages to be decided over two legs.

For April, the match marks a significant rise from playing in South Africa’s third tier to competing in continental football.

The 22-year-old midfielder joined African Stars from Cape Town-based Hope FC after helping the club win promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship through the 2026 ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs.

April’s route to Namibia began with a trial, which led to him earning a place in the African Stars squad.

“Someone I know got me a trial at African Stars, and I made it. Playing CAF, it’s hard to believe, but I’m actually playing CAF,” he said.

African Stars said April would add energy, discipline and strength to their midfield as they prepared for their continental campaign.

April’s journey from Mitchell’s Plain

April started playing football in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, and had spells with Old Mutual and Hamiltons before joining Stellenbosch FC.

During an 18-month period with Stellenbosch’s reserve side, he moved from playing at right-back and in other defensive positions into the role of central defensive midfielder.

He played alongside Kyle Jurgens in the DStv Diski Challenge before moving to Hope FC, where his performances during the promotion campaign helped open the door to a career outside South Africa.

Dopolo has been an important support since April’s move to Windhoek. The former SuperSport United defender had already played in Namibia for FC Ongos before joining African Stars in July.

“It helps that I found Lyema here. He’s a good footballer. We stay in the same house in Windhoek; we’re roommates here. We help each other a lot,” April said.

The pair’s South African connection will add a personal dimension to the tie, but Dopolo believes the prospect of playing Pirates is motivation enough for every member of the African Stars squad.

“Those are the type of games where you don’t need motivation. It’s motivation in itself to play Pirates,” Dopolo previously told FARPost.

African Stars reached the tie after overturning a 3-1 first-leg loss to Gabon’s AS Mangasport. They advanced with a 2-0 win at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

The second leg against Orlando Pirates is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October, at Orlando Amstel Arena.