Orlando Pirates Proves African Football Pedigree After Record Breaking Achievement Making CAF Confed Cup Final

Orlando Pirates Proves African Football Pedigree After Record Breaking Achievement Making CAF Confed Cup Final

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
  • Orlando Pirates continued to show why it was a force to be reckoned with as South Africa's entrant into African football competitions
  • The Buccaneers made more history when they qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup final, where they will take on RS Berkane
  • However, they will need to win this encounter in order to not be known as the eternal bridesmaids when they make the finals

Orlando Pirates made more history in qualifying for the CAF Confederations Cup final set to be hosted by the city of Uyo in Nigeria.

They became the first South African team to qualify for four African club football finals. The Sea Robbers will take on Morocco's RS Berkane at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday night.

orlando pirates, caf, champions league, thamsanqa gabuza, senzo meyiwa, jerry sikhosana
Jerry Sikhosana, the late Senzo Meyiwa and Thamsanqa Gabuza were key in Orlando Pirates' previous successful runs in CAF competitions.
Source: Getty Images

Pirates' previous appearances in continental finals where in the 1995 African Champions Cup (winners, defeated Asec Mimosa 3-2 on aggregate), 2013 Champions League (runners-up, lost 3-1 on aggregate to Al Ahly) and the 2015 Confederations Cup (runners-up, lost 2-1 on aggregate to Étoile du Sahel).

Furthermore, according to sports statistics experts OptaJabu, this was also the sixth instance that the Buccaneers had reached the semifinals of an African competition, a record extension by a South African team. These include the African Champions Cup, 1999/2000 African Cup Winners Cup, 2006/07 and 2013 Champions League, and 2015 Confederations Cup.

The club has an impressive conversion rate, having made the final four out of these six trips. However, they'll want to improve their cup-winning success rate to 50% out in West Africa this weekend.

Orlando Pirates chases down history as CAF Confederations Cup semifinal looms against Al Ahly Tripoli

Orlando Pirates' quest for history will continue this weekend as the club takes on Al Ahly Tripoli in the CAF Confederations Cup semifinal first leg in Libya on Sunday night.

As reported by Sports Brief, Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are the only South African sides to have won the Champions League and Super Cup.

If the Buccaneers were to plunder the Confederations Cup trophy too, they would be the first club in Mzansi and from Southern Africa to have won all three trophies.

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Keba Mothoagae
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