Pirates set sights on CAF Champions League group stage - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.

Orlando Pirates says will not leave anything to chance and risk being eliminated before the group stage of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League when they host Namibia's African Stars on Friday evening in Soweto. Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says they would not want to see a repeat of the disappointment of last season when they were eliminated by the DRC's Saint Eloi Lupopo F.

The Buccaneers will go into the second leg of the preliminary tie with a 1-nil advantage after they beat the Namibian side in the first leg in Botswana last Saturday. Pirates' fans still brag about their club winning Africa's premier club football competition in 1995 and having a star added on their favourite club's jersey more than 30-years-ago.

Pirates came close to repeating that success, reaching the final in 2013 only to lose to Egyptian giants, Ahl Ahly, in the final. Pirates also did well in the competition two seasons ago under Jose Riveiro, before losing to another Egyptian side, Pyramids, in the semi-finals.

However, the Buccaneers have not been as successful in the competition as Mamelodi Sundowns, who won a second CAF Champions league title last year. The multitudes of Pirates fans have been disappointed by the team losing before the group stages of the competition twice in the last three seasons.

Ouaddou, says it's important that they consistently do well in the competition and go as far as is possible. "It's really an important objective for us regarding last season where we didn't manage to go through the stage, I said that this season Orlando Piratews is a giant in Africa and we have to see Pirates in this Champions league the fans the partners we need big teams in the competitions.

It's like not having Morocco in the World Cup not having Pirates in the Champions league."