Lioli FC vs Orlando Pirates: Preview, team news, time and where to watch

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Lioli FC vs Orlando Pirates: Preview, team news, time and where to watch
Image - Pirates

Orlando Pirates have had one week to soak in all the glory of their MTN8 trophy win and it is now time for business as they embark on their CAF Champions League campaign.

Pirates face Lesotho champions Lioli FC at the Free State Stadium on Saturday September 20 and although they are the away team, they will play in South Africa as their hosts do not have an approved stadium back home.

The Soweto giants are looking to go one better this season after reaching the semi-final of the 2024-25 competition and losing out to eventual champions Pyramids in the final minutes of the second leg match.

Pirates are largely changed this season with Jose Riveiro no longer the coach, having been replaced by Abdeslam Ouaddou while the Moroccan coach has seen 11 new players brought in, giving him a selection headache.

How do the two teams compare on form?

Abdeslam Ouaddou Orlando Pirates
Image – Pirates

Pirates come into the match following last weekend’s 3-0 thrashing of Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final with all goals scored in extra time while the power of their bench was on full display as substitutes turned the game in their favour.

That was their fifth straight win in all competitions, a period when they have scored 10 goals and conceded just one, which makes them favourites to down the Lesotho champions.

Meanwhile, Lioli, led by South African coach Bongani Maseko, have played just one match this season, winning 5-0 against Members.

Lioli vs Orlando Pirates head-to-head record

Patrick Maswanganyi Orlando Pirates vs Orbit College
Image – Pirates

This is the first meeting between the two teams as Lioli are not regulars on the Champions League stage despite being seven-time winners in Lesotho.

Champions League pedigree

Pirates reached last season’s semi-final, their best results in a continental competition since 2013, when they finished runners-up and will be fancied to go all the way this time.

The Buccaneers have also tasted continental glory, having won the Champions League in 1995.

Evidence Makgopa and Kamogelo Sebelebele Orlando Pirates
Image – Pirates

Meanwhile, Lioli, founded in 1932, are minnows on this stage as they rarely go past the first preliminary round despite winning seven league titles back home and will likely exit at the same stage again this season.

Orlando Pirates team news: Namteja and Appollis to start?

Ouaddou might be tempted to make many changes to give players who gave it all against Stellies a rest and we could see new signings like Masindi Nemtajela and Oswin Appollis starting after impressing off the bench last weekend while striker Boitumelo Radiopane might be recalled after missing out in recent matches.

Time and where to watch

The match will kick off at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein at 15:00 and will be live on SABC1.

Orlando Pirates predictive lineup

Chaine; Lebisto, Hotto, Sibisi, Mbokazi; Nduli, Mbatha, Mbule; Sebelele, Appollis, Radiopane

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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