JOHANNESBURG:

South African club Orlando Pirates on Saturday became the first high-profile casualty of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League after losing on penalties to Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An Oswin Appollis goal deep in added time gave Pirates a 3-0 second-leg victory in the final round qualifier in Soweto, cancelling the three-goal advantage Lupopo built last weekend.

With the teams tied at 3-3 on aggregate, a shootout followed and the Congolese converted five of six spot kicks to win 5-4 and secure a place in the November 3 group draw in Johannesburg.

After each club converted four of five penalties, the shootout went to sudden death. Berdy Matukala netted for Lupopo, then Yanela Mbuthuma struck his kick wide.

Trying to become the first South African c

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