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Sthembiso Nkabinde

Mixed Fortunes! Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stellenbosch FC ease into the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages as Orlando Pirates flop!

South African teams were in action this weekend in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Pirates and Sundowns did action in the continent’s premier competition - the CAF Champions League - while Chiefs and Stellies were playing in the Confederation Cup.

Shockingly, Bucs were dumped out by lowly Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the second preliminary round, and this was despite a valiant effort in the second leg at the Orlando Stadium.

Their neighbours, Chiefs, dished out a clinical performance in their second leg of the Confederation Cup against AS Simba, beating them 3-1 at Dobsonville Stadium.

It was a good day at the office for Stellies too, who eased into the group stages of the same competition after beating 15 de Agosto 4-1 at home. 

The last of the Mzansi clubs to get the job done was Sundowns, swatting aside Nigeria’s Remo Stars 7-1 on aggregate to progress to the group stages.

Here, GOAL looks at how the Mzansi sides performed in their respective competitions on the continent.

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  • Etiosa Ighodaro, Glody Lilepo, Kaizer Chiefs, October 2025Backpage

    Solid Chiefs into the CAF CC group stages

    Amakhosi advanced to the Confed Cup group stages with a 3-1 win over AS Simba in the second preliminary round second leg at the Dobsonville Stadium.

    Etiosa Ighodaro opened his account for the Soweto giants in the fifth minute,  before Zitha Kwinika and Glody Lilepo wrapped up a comfortable win. 

    Simba managed to pull one back, but it was too little too late as the Glamour Boys sealed passage to the group stages comfortably.

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  • Peter Shalulile & Aubrey Modiba, Mamelodi SundownsBackpagepix

    Sundowns breeze past Remo Stars

    Sundowns cruised to the Champions League group stages with a thumping 7-1 aggregate win over Nigerian champions Remo Stars in the second preliminary round. 

    Downs came into the clash with a massive four-goal advantage from the first leg, but they didn’t rest on their laurels as they added three more goals.

    Sundowns are now the only representatives for Mzansi in the Champions League after Pirates were shockingly dumped out.

  • Orlando PiratesBackpage

    Brave Pirates go down to Lupopo

    Despite launching an incredible comeback in the second leg, Pirates’ valiant effort was not enough to ensure passage into the group stages as they fell to Saint-Éloi Lupopo on penalties.

    Pirates exited the competition after the two-legged tie ended in a 3-3 aggregate score following the second leg in Soweto at the Orlando Stadium.  

    It was a shocking result for Pirates, who were expected to swat aside their lowly opponents, but last year’s semi-finalist came unstuck.

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  • Stellenbosch FC, CAF Confederation CupBackpagepix

    Stellies into CAF Confed Cup group stages

    Stellenbosch FC progressed to the Confederation Cup group stages after thrashing 15 de Agosto 4-1 in the second leg of their second preliminary round tie on Sunday.

    Thato Khiba, Sanele Barns, Andre de Jong, and Chumani Butsaka were on the scoresheet for the Cape Winelands outfit in what was a solid day at the office. 

    Stellies have now built a consistent presence in the group stages of this competition over the last few years, and they will hope to go deep once again this year.  

  • Masindi Nemtajela and Soso Mukoko, Orlando Pirates vs LupopoBackpage

    What next for the Mzansi sides?

    After sealing passage to the group stages, the likes of Sundowns, Chiefs, and Stellies will hope to go deep in the respective competitions. 

    As for Pirates, all their focus now goes into their Premier Soccer League campaign, where they hope to dethrone defending champions Sundowns.  

  • Nuno Santos, Mamelodi SundownsBackpagepix

    Dive Deeper

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