Orlando Pirates' Bandile Shandu Stirs Football World With CAF Confed Cup Performance Against Al Ittihad

• Orlando Pirates midfielder Bandile Shandu was the talk of South African football town after another impressive display
• The Buccaneers might have been defeated 3-2 by Al-Ittihad, but Shandu was the standout player on the night
• His performances lately have not gone unnoticed, with watchers heaping praise on him as his reputation burgeons

Orlando Pirates might have lost 3-2 to Al-Ittihad Tripoli in the CAF Confederations Cup, but midfielder Bandile Shandu was a big winner despite the defeat.

Shandu enhanced his already rising reputation last night with a brace of goals for the Buccaneers in a see-sawing battle. This sees him move up to three goals scored in the competition thus far.

As reported on IOL, Shandu was on the scoresheet a week ago as Pirates defeated JS Saoura 2-0 in the opening match of their campaign. Soccer Laduma detailed how his impressive performances this season have seen him cement the right wingback position that the club has struggled to fill in recent years.

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Shandu was signed by Pirates from Maritzburg United last July according to IOL. It was not a particularly popular acquisition among the team's supporters, but he has won them over completely.

The streets of social media were in praise for Shandu as he terrorised yet another highly-rated north African opponent.

@BanaMalome said:

"Bandile Shandu is easily the BEST right back in the country manene. The last defender to give us consistent goals was Jele. He should be drafted in the Bafana team."

@GOALcomSA said:

"Looks likes a somewhat unexpected signing, Orlando Pirates right-back Bandile Shandu is the most important Buccaneer right now."

@Tabudim said:

"I have been singing Bandile Shandu's praises for a while now. Wow, the boy is such a gem! #orlandopirates #CCC"

@DrUmarscoon said:

"Bandile Shandu is probably the most reliable player we have at the moment."

Al Merrikh vs Mamelodi Sundowns: The Brazilians and Sudan’s Red Devils draw 0:0 in an entertaining encounter

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Elsewhere, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Merrikh played out to an entertaining goalless draw in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

As reported on Sports Brief, both the South African and Sudanese sides could have won the match as each created a host of chances.

Sundowns have now drawn their last two away games, one to Baroka and now to Al Merrikh. They remain atop the group regardless of the draw as the games start coming thick and fast.