Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC all contest the first legs of their second preliminary round ties in the various competitions, one step away from the group stages.
Playing in Africa is no joke, especially away from home, and they will face tough battles in a bid to advance. Here is a round-up of their ties.
REMO STARS VS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
CAF Champions League – October 19, 17:00 (SAST)
A difficult trip to West Africa for Sundowns as they take on the Nigerian champions Remo Stars. It is about as tough a tie as they might have expected at this stage of the competition. Sundowns are South Africa’s most successful side in the Champions League but will know they should have added to their 2016 triumph in the last few years, having been the best team in the competition but fallen short. They lost the final last year to Pyramids FC from Egypt, who were heavy underdogs. Sundowns have competed every year in the competition since 2015, and this is their 19th season in all since their debut in 1994. They have made three previous trips to Nigeria in Africa’s elite club competition and lost every time, so that does not bode well. They went down 2-0 to Julius Berger in the group stages in 2001, 3-1 to Enyimba in their pool match on their way to lifting the trophy in 2016, and 2-1 in another group game against Lobi Stars in 2018/19. It will be a case of a draw being a good result, and then finishing the business in Pretoria, where Sundowns have only ever lost three times in 84 matches in the Champions League.
SAINT ELOI LUPOPO VS ORLANDO PIRATES
CAF Champions League – October 19, 15:00 (SAST)
Orlando Pirates reached the semi-finals last year but also fell short against Pyramids, who seemed to weave a spell over South African opposition. The Buccaneers were 1995 champions in this competition but, aside from a few last-four showings since then, have also underachieved. There is real hope they can lift the trophy this year and have started the season in excellent form. They also face a tricky away day in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, where they take on Saint Eloi Lupopo. There is always as much drama off the pitch as on it in these away days, and Pirates will have to focus on the job at hand and not be distracted by shenanigans. They have never met their Congolese opponents before, but Saint Eloi Lupopo are no strangers to South African clubs, though they have not fared well in the past. They have won one of their eight fixtures (D2 L5) against PSL clubs, which was a 2-0 home success against SuperSport United in 2005, though they still lost the tie on penalties.
SIMBA VS KAIZER CHIEFS
CAF Confederation Cup – October 18, 15:00 (SAST)
Orlando Pirates’ Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs will also be in Lubumbashi for a tie against Congolese side Simba, who are not to be confused with the Tanzanian club of the same name that reached the Confederation Cup final last year. Chiefs have never put all that much effort into doing well in Africa in the past, often playing weakened sides, but there is a real sense this season that they want to make a go of it and have already come through a tough tie against Angolan outfit Kabuscorp, where they needed penalties. They look solid enough this term but scoring goals is their issue, and they come up against a side that looks strong defensively. In the Amakhosi’s favour is the fact Simba have not started their domestic season yet, so have barely played a competitive game since June. They defeated Djabal Club 3-0 on aggregate in the last round. Chiefs have only ever had one tie against Congolese opponents before, which was in the Champions League in 2014. They lost 3-2 on aggregate to AS Vita Club after a 3-0 away loss in the first leg.
15 DE AGOSTO VS STELLENBOSCH FC
CAF Confederation Cup – October 18, 16:00 (SAST)
Stellenbosch FC have been handed a tough assignment against unknown Equatorial Guinea outfit 15 de Agosto and must go away first, where a draw would be agood result. Stellenbosch have started the league season poorly but have been good in the cups, reaching the MTN8 final and defeating Chiefs to advance to the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout. They lose their best players in most windows, so are perennially rebuilding under coach Steve Barker. They reached the Confederation Cup semi-finals last year but lost to Simba of Tanzania in a tie they would have won with better finishing.