Pirates climb to 5th in Africa as Chiefs surge in rankings
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Orlando Pirates lifting the Betway Premiership title last season. Photo: Gallo Images.
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Pirates climb to 5th in Africa as Chiefs surge in rankings
Oct 26, 2026 – 02:25 pm
By Thato Bosoga
Orlando Pirates continue to strengthen their position among Africa’s leading clubs following another positive update in the latest FootballDatabase rankings.
The Buccaneers have climbed to fifth place on the continent, accumulating 1,586 points and moving within 61 points of third-placed Al Ahly. The latest rise highlights Pirates’ growing stature in African football as they prepare for another campaign on the continental stage.
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Ezimnyama are finally back where it matters most after missing out on the CAF Champions League group stages last season. Abdeslam Ouaddou’s charges secured their return with an emphatic 5-0 aggregate victory over Namibia’s African Stars in the second round qualifying.
The Ghosts’ progress comes as they look to build on their recent continental experience and establish themselves among Africa’s elite once again.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs have also enjoyed a significant improvement in the rankings, despite their disappointing CAF Confederation Cup exit.
Amakhosi were eliminated in the second round after losing 3-2 on penalties to Red Arrows of Zambia following a 1-1 aggregate draw.
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However, Chiefs’ early continental exit has yet to derail their impressive rise in the FootballDatabase standings. The Glamour Boys have surged to 48th place in Africa after previously struggling to break into the continent’s top 100. Their improved position is largely attributed to a strong finish in the 2025/26 season, when they secured third place in the Betway Premiership.
Chiefs have also maintained an unbeaten run in the league this season, despite currently sitting fifth in the standings.
It is worth noting that FootballDatabase uses a different ranking system from CAF. While CAF rankings focus exclusively on continental competitions, FootballDatabase also considers domestic matches when calculating club rankings.
This means performances in local leagues can significantly influence a team’s position, offering a broader picture of its overall results throughout the season.
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