Overview
- Pirates return to Betway Premiership play on Wednesday night at Orlando Stadium against Polokwane City, with kickoff at 7:30pm.
- Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side lost 3-0 to FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi and must win 4-0 in Saturday’s return leg to reach the CAF Champions League group stage, with the match scheduled for 3:00pm.
- Bookmakers list Pirates as clear favourites to beat Polokwane City, with Betway pricing them at 1.37 versus 9.80 for City and 4.20 for the draw at the time of publication.
- Selection tweaks are in play after the Congo trip, with potential rest for recent internationals including Evidence Makgopa, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Oswin Appollis and Thalente Mbatha.
- Assessment of the away defeat is complicated by limited broadcast footage, while former goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs described hostile conditions and Metro FM’s Tbo Touch alleged disruptive treatment in Lubumbashi, claims that remain reported but not independently verified.