Orlando Pirates are one step away from securing the spot in the group stages of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League.
They will be out to take on Jwaneng Galaxy in the second leg of the second preliminary round having won the first leg 2-0 in Botswana.
The Buccaneers last reached the Champions League group stages during the 2018/19 season, where they were grouped with Esperance, Horoya SC, and FC Platinum.
They were pitted against Esperance, Horoya SC and FC Platinum. Unfortunately, they were unable to advance to the knockout stages, finishing in third place.
Head-to-head
This match will mark the sixth meeting between the two teams, who previously faced each other in the same round last season.
Ezimnyama Ngenkani has triumphed in four of the last five encounters, while Galaxy has secured only one victory.
In the previous season, Pirates were eliminated in the second preliminary round by Galaxy, losing in a penalty shootout after the aggregate score ended in a 1-1 draw.
Recent form (Last five results)
| ORLANDO PIRATES | JWANENG GALAXY |
| – Pirates 2-1 Chippa | – Jwaneng 0-2 Pirates |
| – Jwaneng 0-2 Pirates | – Jwaneng 1-0 African Stars (6-5 Pen) |
| – Pirates 2-0 Cape Town City FC | – African Stars 1-0 Jwaneng |
| – CT City 1-1 Pirates | – Jwaneng 1-0 Orapa |
| – Pirates 4-0 Disciples | – Gaborone 0-0 Jwaneng |
What did the coaches say?
Galaxy coach Morena Ramoreboli expressed his disappointment after they lost 2-0 at home as Pirates head to the return leg with a significant advantage of two away goals.
However, he insisted they will fight to defy odds and come back with positive results on Saturday.
“I still believe we tried our best to score, it was not meant to be. It’s football, sometimes you need to take the result, as bad as they are. We need to go back, plan, what we going to do in the second leg, it’s not over yet, it’s football,” said Ramoreboli.
Meanwhile, Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro was adamant that the job is not done yet. He stated they have to come back home and wrap up the game.
“It is not over, it's only the first half in the round. We still have to play 90 minutes at Orlando in one week; in the middle of that process, we still have to play our first game in the league [against Chippa United] as well.
“We will not be thinking about whether we are leading or not, we want to win every game. We are playing at home, we want to win.”
Time and where to watch
The match will be played on Saturday, 21 September at Orlando Stadium at 18:00.
It will be televised on SABC Sport.
