Orlando Pirates handed La Cure Waves tie in CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates will begin their CAF Champions League campaign against Mauritanian side La Cure Waves in the first preliminary round, while Mamelodi Sundowns have been given a bye to the second preliminary round.

Pirates are aiming to progress further in this season’s competition after their run ended in the second preliminary round last year. The Buccaneers were beaten by Saint-Eloi Lupopo on penalties after producing a remarkable comeback in the second leg.

Having lost the away match 3-0, Pirates levelled the tie at home before ultimately falling short in the shootout.

The Betway Premiership champions will now start their latest continental campaign against La Cure Waves. Their entry in the first qualifying round is linked to their position in the CAF five-year ranking, where they currently sit 19th.

Sundowns, by contrast, are among the teams exempted from the opening round after moving to the top of the CAF Ranking. They will enter the competition in the second preliminary round, where they will meet either Wiliete SC of Angola or Foresters FC of Seychelles.

The first legs of the first preliminary round are scheduled to take place between 4 and 6 September, with the return matches to follow a week later from 11 to 13 September.

The second preliminary-round first legs will be played between 16 and 18 October. The return fixtures are scheduled for 23 to 25 October.

The group-stage campaign is due to begin with matchday one from 27 to 29 November.

For Pirates, the opening tie offers an opportunity to improve on last season’s continental showing. Their defeat by Saint-Eloi Lupopo came despite recovering from a three-goal deficit, with the final outcome decided by penalties after the teams were level over the two legs.

The Buccaneers will therefore have to negotiate two preliminary-round matches before reaching the group stage, while Sundowns’ higher position in the CAF Ranking means they need to win only one tie to advance to that phase.

The CAF Champions League remains the leading club competition in African football, and both South African representatives now know the route they must take. Pirates will face La Cure Waves in September, while Sundowns will wait until October to discover whether their opponents are Wiliete SC or Foresters FC.