Sibisi wary of Lupopo threat but adamant Pirates draw inspiration from Bafana – ‘If we aren’t on song, we can suffer’

Orlando Pirates play St Eloi Lupopo in the first leg of the CAF Champions League's second preliminary round on Sunday in Lubumbashi.

This will be a massive game for the Premier Soccer League outfit, who reached the semi-final last season before falling to eventual champions Pyramids. It explains why they are determined to give their best and reach the latter stages of the annual competition.

The Buccaneers skipper, Nkosinathi Sibisi, insists that recent Bafana Bafana's qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup might benefit the Soweto giants.

As a matter of fact, Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha, Evidence Makgopa, Sipho Mbule, Sipho Chaine, and Tshepang Moremi were part of Hugo Broos' team that beat Rwanda 3-0 to qualify.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi could have been part of them but was denied by the sending off in the previous outing against Zimbabwe in Group C.

Pirates have the rhythm but…

“The confidence we’ve gained from qualifying Bafana for the World Cup will help us a lot in DRC on Sunday. We’ve returned with boosted morale, and I hope we can use that against Lupopo,” he said as quoted by the Sowetan.

“The fact that we have already played more games than them this season can give us that slight advantage because we have momentum now.

“We have our rhythm going, but we are not relying on that because we know that if we are not on song on the day, we can suffer.

“In fact, we focus more on ourselves. We know what we have to do on the day. We need a positive result that will make our job a little bit easier in the second leg at home,” Sibisi concluded.

The second leg will be played in a week at the Orlando Stadium.