CAF Champions League: Orlando Pirates, Remo Stars, Rivers chasing do-or-die comebacks this weekend
NPFL representatives on the verge of CAFCL elimination
A total of 14 matches are on the card in the 2025-26 CAF Champions League qualifiers this weekend, with teams across the continent set to try and secure their spot in the main draw of Africa’s premier club competition.
However, the Nigerian Professional Football League representatives, Remo Stars and Rivers United, face uphill battles to qualify for the tournament, having lost the first leg of their second qualifying round ties last week.
The Sky Blue Stars have a mountain to climb this weekend, as they head to Loftus Versfeld in South Africa to face PSL powerhouse and last season’s CAFCL runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns, hoping to overturn a massive four-goal deficit.
Indeed, the NPFL champs suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat at the M.K.O Abiola International Stadium last week, where Tashreeq Matthews, Peter Shalulile, Miguel Reisinho, Arthur Sales and Katlego Ntsabeleng all got on the scoresheet for Masandawana.
While unlikely, Remo Stars’ assistant coach Tiago Conde has not ruled out the possibility of his side pulling off one of the greatest comebacks seen in the competition’s history. You can follow all the action this weekend using our CAF Champions League livescore tool.
As for Rivers United, they fell to Maputo outfit Black Bulls 1-0 in the first leg, with Moctar Diallo scoring the only goal of the match five minutes into the second half. The Pride of Rivers cannot afford to concede early in this clash, given that the away goals rule still applies in these qualifiers.
It is also worth noting that CAF rescheduled this match in Port Harcourt for a day earlier than initially expected. Kickoff will now take place on October 25 at 15:00 (GMT).
Mammoth task awaits the Buccaneers in Soweto
While the Premier Soccer League looks almost certain to have at least one team in the CAF Champions League this season, Orlando Pirates will be hoping to double that, but they face a huge task against Saint-Eloi Lupopo this afternoon.
The Buccaneers entered the first leg in the DRC as favourites, but they suffered a 3-0 hiding and now need three unanswered goals to keep their qualification hopes alive, or four without conceding to secure qualification.
The Soweto giants reached the semi-final of this competition last season before bowing out to eventual champions Pyramids FC. They are having an excellent domestic campaign in 2025-26, so exiting the continental tournament at this stage would be a huge blow for the Bucs.
One major positive for this week’s hosts will be the return of Patrick Maswanganyi, who put in a Player of the Match effort in the week against Polokwane. All indicators suggest this could be a high-scoring affair, with the Sea Robbers needing to get on the board early.
