Pirates in CAF Champions League challenge
by Lovemore Moyo · KickOffOrlando Pirates’ rankings in the CAF Champions League have left them with a mountain to climb ahead of the group stage draw on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers are back in the group stage and will be carrying the South African flag in the continent’s premier club competition after Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a shock exit on Friday.
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While they were winners of the competition way back in 1995 when it was known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs, Pirates are no longer considered a force to reckon with on the continent.
The evidence of that is in their latest continental ranking.
CAF uses the 5-year ranking to determine seeding for the club inter-club competitions, with influential factors based on results from recent years.
Abdeslam Ouaddou's charges will go into the draw down in 10th out of all the 16 clubs through to the group stage.
Being 15th on the latest rankings puts them in pot three.
There are nine other clubs still active in the competition ranked above Pirates.
The Full Pot Breakdown
Minus Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, third-placed Tunisian giants Esperance now enjoy top place this season.
Then come RS Berkane, Rulani Mokwena’s Pyramids, and Zamalek in pot 1, Al Hilal, Simba, Young Africans, and Petro de Luanda in pot 2, and then MC Alger leading pot 3 with Pirates behind.
Noaudhibou and Horoya are the other two teams in pot 3, with Club Africain, Wiliete, Colombe Sportive, and Maghreb Fez in pot 4.
Three Trips to North Africa Could Be on the Cards
Based on the pots, the Soweto giants could have three trips to North Africa.
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Guaranteed is that they will travel to Tunisia, Morocco, or Egypt (all in pot one) and then Sudan (conditional), Tanzania, or Angola (all in pot two), plus Tunisia, Angola, Cameroon, or Morocco in pot 4.
Group stages will run from November 27, 2026, to January 24, 2027.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images