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MTN 8 Cup Overview

Former Sundowns coach reveals Buccaneers’ winning ingredient

After a few seasons of the Soweto giants showing flashes of being a dangerous outfit only to fall short at crucial moments, the Sea Robbers have produced a commendable run of form, signaling their intent to go for everything in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season. The Bucs have already lifted three trophies before the halfway mark of the campaign — the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, and Carling Black Label Cup — while also sitting top of the league table, underlining their growing authority and consistency.

Who'll don the famous jersey number 10? Mbule, Appollis & the rest of Pirates players learn CAFCL shirt numbers

The Buccaneers kick off their CAF Champions League campaign this weekend with a Preliminary Round clash against Lesotho’s Lioli FC at Free State Stadium, reigniting their quest for a second continental crown.

Thabiso Motloung on Sundowns vs Ribeiro video

WATCH: The Yellow Corner on Sundowns vs Ribeiro - 'FIFA has opened a can of worms!'

Thabiso Motloung lets rip at the 'ugly' situation the Brazilian found himself in and wonders how the global football governing body and clubs will navigate a world where players can unilaterally tear up their contracts and move on.

Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates, September 2025

Ouaddou warned against celebrating MTN8 glory and told to focus on what matters for Pirates

It seems the Moroccan is far from winning over his doubters, as he has been told domestic success does not count much for ambitious Sea Robbers.

Ouaddou proves doubters wrong 🤫

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam has made all of his doubters eat humble pie after delivering a trophy for the Buccaneers in his maiden campaign. There were plenty of sceptics when the Moroccan took over the reins from Spanish coach Jose Riveiro, who had enjoyed plenty of success with the Sea Robbers.

Enough is enough! Khoza urges Pirates to break Sundowns' PSL dominance after MTN8 supremacy

The Soweto giants last won the Premier Soccer League title in 2012 and have been finishing as runners-up to Masandawana for the last three seasons. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is tasked to break the Brazilians' dominance of the PSL after his predecessors like Jose Riveiro, Rhulani Mokwena, Muhsin Ertugral, Eric Tinkler, Roger de Sa, Milutin Sredojevic and Josef Zinnbauer failed to deliver the biggest trophy in South African football.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Arsenal	8	8	0	0	23	4	19	24	W W W W W
2	Bayern Munich	8	7	0	1	22	8	14	21	W W W L W
3	Liverpool	8	6	0	2	20	8	12	18	W W W L W
4	Tottenham	8	5	2	1	17	7	10	17	W W W L W
5	Barcelona	8	5	1	2	22	14	8	16	W W W L D

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Arsenal

W
W
W
W
W

Bayern Munich

W
W
W
L
W

Liverpool

W
W
W
L
W

Tottenham

W
W
W
L
W

Barcelona

W
W
W
L
D

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most Champions League titles?

Current title holders Real Madrid are miles ahead of any other club in Europe's most prestigious competition, having gone all the way whopping 15 times – more than twice the number of titles lifted by any other club.

How many teams are in the Champions League?

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format. The competition was known as the European Cup at the time of its inception in 1955 before being rebranded to the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 1992-93 season. In its inaugural edition in 1955-56, only 16 teams contested.

Who has made the most Champions League appearances ever?

Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the appearance-making charts, having played in 183 Champions League games, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Who is the all-time top scorer of the Champions League?

No surprises here! It's Mr. Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the leading goalscorer in the Champions League with an astonishing 141 goals to his name!

Who has the most assists in the history of the Champions League?

Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a prolific goalscorer, but also has a keen eye for his team-mates as his record 42 assists in the Champions League prove.

Who is the oldest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?

Former Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever in the Champions League. Playing for Lazio against Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season, Ballotta was aged 43 years and 252 days.

Who is the youngest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?

Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League game. He set the record on December 8 2020, in Dortmund's group stage fixture against Zenit St. Petersburg, aged 16 years and 18 days.

Which famous players have played in the Champions League?

Gianluigi Buffon, Raul, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Lionel Messi, and Mo Salah, to name a few, are some of the greatest and most famous footballing faces to have graced the Champions League over the decades.

Which famous managers have managed in the Champions League?

Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Frank Rijkaard, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Zinedine Zidane, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsene Wenger are some of the most famous managers to have coached a club in the Champions League.