Lioli Football Club’s much-anticipated return to continental competition ended in disappointment last Saturday when they suffered a 3–0 defeat to South African giants Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
The match, hosted by Lioli in Free State South Africa, saw Tse Nala make a come back to Africa’s elite competition after years of absence.
Yet despite their heavy defeat, the Teyateyaneng outfit insists they are not ready to throw in the towel ahead of the decisive second leg in Johannesburg.
Lioli now face an uphill battle in tomorrow’s return leg, where they must overturn a three-goal deficit against one of Africa’s most experienced and formidable clubs.
And while the task may appear insurmountable, head coach Bongani Maseko believes his side still has a chance.
“We are not giving up. It was a tough result, yes, but we have seen comebacks before in football. We will regroup and fight until the end,” Maseko said after last Saturday’s loss.
This year’s campaign marked Lioli’s first CAF Champions League appearance since 2017. The club was unable to compete in last season’s edition due to Lesotho’s stadium infrastructure failing to meet CAF requirements, as confirmed by the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA).
Having reclaimed the domestic league title earlier this year, Lioli had returned to continental football with high hopes, those fading hopes now rest on tomorrow’s demanding assignment.
In Saturday’s clash, Lioli began strongly, pressing Pirates high up the pitch and defending with discipline. For the entire first half, they held firm under sustained pressure, frustrating the home side and going into the break with the scores still level.
The second half, however, proved decisive. Pirates’ striker Tshegofatso Mabasa finally broke through in the 53rd minute with a powerful header, capitalising on a well-worked attack down the right flank. Just five minutes later, Mabasa doubled his tally, punishing a defensive lapse as Lioli struggled to regain composure.
The Soweto giants sealed the game in the closing stages when substitute Oswin Appollis calmly slotted in a third goal, leaving Lioli with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
Reflecting on the defeat, Maseko admitted that his side were undone by Pirates’ tactical adjustments after the break but credited his players’ resilience in the opening 45 minutes.
“We performed well in the first half, especially in our transitions and defensive shape,” Maseko noted.
“But in the second half, they changed their approach. We tried to close the central areas, but they attacked us from the flanks. That is where we got caught.”
Lioli’s coach conceded that his side’s attempt to chase a goal left them vulnerable to Pirates’ counter-attacks but stressed the importance of learning from the experience.
“We were aiming to get at least one goal. Unfortunately, we got caught on the counter while pushing forward. Still, we take some positives and will review the footage carefully to prepare for the second leg.”
On the other side, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised his team’s tactical discipline and flexibility, acknowledging that Lioli’s defensive organisation had forced them to adapt.
“We expected a compact and defensive Lioli, so we tried to break through the middle early on. When that did not work, we moved the ball wide and took advantage. Our second-half substitutions gave us more options up front, and that changed the game.”
Ouaddou also reflected on the pressures that come with managing a club of Pirates’ stature.
“With a big team like Pirates, expectations are high. You are working with top players, but keeping them focused and in sync is always a challenge,” he concluded.
Summary
- Lioli Football Club’s much-anticipated return to continental competition ended in disappointment last Saturday when they suffered a 3–0 defeat to South African giants Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
- Pirates’ striker Tshegofatso Mabasa finally broke through in the 53rd minute with a powerful header, capitalising on a well-worked attack down the right flank.
- The Soweto giants sealed the game in the closing stages when substitute Oswin Appollis calmly slotted in a third goal, leaving Lioli with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
