Jwaneng Galaxy caused an upset by beating SA giants Orlando Pirates 1-0 defeat in a CAF Champions League clash on Saturday afternoon at Gaborone National Stadium.
Pirates visited Botswana to take on Jwaneng Galaxy in the second preliminary round first leg of the CAF Champions League. Galaxy are coached by the South African coach Morena Ramoreboli, who recently led Bafana Bafana in the 2023 COSAFA Cup.
The Buccaneers beat the Comoros side Djabal 4-0 on aggregate in the two-legged first preliminary of the Champions League.
In the 2021/22 season, Pirates went all the way to the CAF Confederations Cup final and lost to RC Berkane of Morroco.
LESEDI KAPINGA HANDED PIRATES’ FIRST START
Jose Riveiro made changes to the starting line-up against Galaxy and handed Lesedi Kapinga his first start of the season.
Kapinga joined Pirates at the start of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season after parting ways with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Meanwhile, Karim Kimvuidi, Siphelo Baloni, and Melusi Buthelezi who joined at the start of the campaign sat of the bench.
Another player handed his first start of the season in the Pirates starting line-up was Olisa Ndah who comes from a long injury layoff.
In local football, Pirates have had a slow start after winning two games in the league, drawing, one, and losing once in four games played.
Galaxy took the lead against the Soweto giants in the 21st minute and held on to go into the half-time break with a goal advantage.
Pirates came back into the second half searching for an equalising goal against Galaxy but were let down by poor decision-making in the final third.
The Ghosts will have it all to do in the second leg at Orlando Stadium to turn the scoreline and seal the spot in the Championship League group stages.
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