Uncomfortable trip awaits Pirates in Botswana?

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Uncomfortable trip awaits Pirates in Botswana?

Sep 24, 2026 – 10:50 am
By Thato Bosoga

Orlando Pirates will be well aware of the potential banana skin that Nambian side African Stars represents as they gear up for the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round fixture, following a previous double dose of shocking results.

Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men have not been particularly good travelers in the early stages of the competition and that much was evident as they were held to a goalless draw by semi-professional side La Cure Waves, whose league in Mauritius is yet to commence, in the first leg of the first preliminary round.

READ | Pirates’ expected advantage gone as CAF opponents make venue call

The Ghost would have rested easy following assumptions that their upcoming opponents, Stars, would play their home match in South Africa having hosted Gabonese side Mangasport at Lucas Moripe Stadium in the home leg of their tie in the previous round.

However, they have resolved to take their home match against Pirates to Botswana’s National Stadium, as confirmed last week, with the clash taking place on 17 October.

Bucs will not have fond memories of playing continental matches in Botswana after Gaborone United frustrated them to a 0-0 stalemate in a first leg of the Champions League preliminary rounds back in February 2010 under Ruud Krol.

The Dutch tactician had rested most of his key players for the league schedule but paid a heavy price after United fought for a 2-2 draw in South Africa and eliminated their much-fancied opponents on away goals.

Jose Riveiro was next on the receiving end of a humiliating exit courtesy of a team from Botswana in September 2023. His charges lost 1-0 to Jwaneng Galaxy in the landlocked country, with Morena Ramoreboli’s charges limiting them to a 1-0 win in the return fixtures, before knocking them out via a penalty shootout.

However, they redeemed themselves against the same opposition a year later, still under Riveiro, winning 2-0 away in the first leg of the qualifying rounds before recording a 1-0 success on home soil to comfortably reach the group stage.