Orlando Pirates Aim to Recover from CAF Setback Ahead of Knockout Clash

Orlando Pirates want to move on from the heartbreak of their CAF Champions League exit and focus on reaching the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, says assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi.

The Buccaneers are still reeling from their elimination in the Champions League preliminary round on penalties against Congolese side St Eloi Lupopo on Saturday.

Trailing 3–0 from the first leg, the Soweto giants produced a spirited comeback at Orlando Stadium, scoring three goals to level the aggregate and force the game into a penalty shootout.

However, Deon Hotto and Yanela Mbuthuma missed their spot-kicks, allowing Lupopo to edge the shootout 5–4 in sudden death.

Pirates have little time to lick their wounds, as they face another crucial test on Tuesday when they host Magesi in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals at Orlando Stadium.

The two sides met in the same competition last season in the first round, with Magesi storming into a 3–0 lead in the first half. Pirates fought back in the second half but ultimately fell short, losing 3–2. Magesi went on to lift the trophy after beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.

“It’s an opportunity for our team to move into the semi-finals of such an important cup,” said Ncikazi.

“We can only take lessons from our previous performances and improve. No regrets — only lessons to be learned.

“Our focus is to improve the performance, get to the next round. That’s what this team is all about.”

Pirates last won the League Cup in the 2011/12 season against Bidvest Wits in Durban when they completed a famous treble. Their most recent appearance in the final came in 2018/19, when they lost to Baroka on penalties.

Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Ncikazi cautioned against relying on past results.

“It’s the same name, Magesi, but they’ve changed coaches and players,” he said. “We don’t want to use history; we want to use performances.

“We’ll look at how they set up — their weaknesses and strengths — and see where we can exploit them to win the match and reach the semi-finals of this cup.”