By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
St Éloi Lupopo stunned Orlando Pirates with a comprehensive 3–0 win in their first-leg preliminary round second stage clash at the Stade Kibassa Maliba in Lubumbashi, DRC.
Wanet Kashala gave Lupopo the perfect start inside three minutes, while Dramane Kambou and a stoppage-time strike from Jean Benoit Tukumbane capped off a memorable performance.
Pirates return to South Africa with little time to regroup, as they face Polokwane City in Premier Soccer League action on Wednesday, 22 October. Just days later, they’ll host Lupopo at Orlando Stadium for the decisive second leg over the weekend.
Meanwhile Simba SC underlined their pedigree with a convincing 3–0 away win over Nsingizini Hotspurs in Eswatini.
Wilson Nangu opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock before Denis Kibu sealed victory with two late goals in the 84th and 90th minutes.
Elsewhere MC Alger showed their resilience to secure a 1–1 draw with Colombe FC in Yaoundé.
The hosts went ahead through Inno Loemba in the 14th minute, but Algerian substitute Ayoub Ghezala struck five minutes from time to give MC Alger a crucial away goal ahead of the return leg in Algiers.