Under the fading Orlando sun, hope burned brightly — but not brightly enough.
Orlando Pirates’ African journey came to an end on Saturday night as they bowed out of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, falling 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw to the resilient Railmen of Saint-Eloi Lupopo.
The Buccaneers fought with heart, winning the second leg 3-0 at home, but the ghosts of their 3-0 defeat in Lubumbashi returned to haunt them. For all their dominance in Soweto, the mountain they had to climb proved just too steep, leaving heartbreak in Orlando.
With generations of talent over the years, few Pirates teams have managed to recapture the magic of the 1995 Champions League-winning side. Many have tried, but none have matched that class or carved their own piece of continental glory. Yet, among all the matches that have come and gone, few have carried as much weight as this second-leg encounter against the DR Congo side.
Last season’s semi-final finish had rekindled belief, but after a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, hope was all the Buccaneers had left to cling to. Their task was monumental — to do what no South African side had ever done before: overturn a three-goal deficit on the continental stage.
☠️ FT | @orlandopirates 3 – 0 @fcsteloilupopo [Agg: 3 (4) – 3 (5)]
🥅 Nemtajela 39′, Mbuthuma 68′, Appollis 95′
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/SVRpHNjWQp
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) October 25, 2025
Known as Les Cheminots — the Railmen — Lupopo lived up to their name from the first whistle. They looked like a team forged in steel, forming a defensive shield as strong as the railway lines that gave them their identity, determined to halt the Buccaneers’ surging train of ambition.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou fielded a side brimming with energy and intent, buoyed by their 7-0 aggregate win over Lioli FC in the first preliminary round. The result offered a glimmer of hope that they might overturn their deficit. Yet, beyond that dominant display, the team had averaged just over a goal per league match, highlighting the challenge that lay ahead in this demanding encounter.
Pirates pressed with purpose, dictating possession, but found themselves frustrated by Lupopo’s iron defence, reduced to long-range efforts. Against the run of play, the visitors nearly struck through a Basala Amongo 30-yard effort, forcing Chaine into a fine save.
But just as tension crept into the stands, Masindi Nemtangela’s low drive reignited hope — a lifeline before half-time. Chaos followed, tempers flared, and both Pirates’ Tshepang Moremi and Maniania Sumbu saw red as the sides headed into the break with everything still to play for.
The task now fell to the substitutes. Kabelo Dlamini took charge of midfield, providing the fluidity Pirates had been missing to penetrate Lupopo’s defence. Minutes later, another substitute, Yanela Mbuthuma, glanced a header off a defender from a corner and into the net, keeping the tie alive with a little over 15 minutes left.
As the clock ticked down, Oswin Appollis never lost hope, and his added-time strike gave his side a 3-0 win — but the job was not quite done. The Orlando Stadium was buzzing with fans singing “Sekusele Kancane, sizo phumelela” — “Not much left; we will succeed.” The Buccaneers had found belief to take the contest to penalties.
It wasn’t to be, though, as for the second time in three seasons the Buccaneers were knocked out in the second preliminary round via a penalty shootout, their Champions League dream once again fading into the night.
