Lioli Football Club’s return to continental football ended in disappointment as the Teyateyaneng giants were handed a harsh lesson by South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, underscoring the gulf in class between the two sides.
The humbling experience now leaves Lioli with no choice but to regroup and chart a stronger path for another shot at CAF competition next season.
Lioli arrived home on Sunday nursing the wounds of a 4-0 defeat in the second leg of their CAF Champions League clash at Orlando Stadium.
Coupled with a 3-0 loss in the first leg played at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, the result sealed a 7-0 aggregate exit for the reigning Vodacom Premier League (VPL) champions at the tournament’s round of 32 stage.
Head coach Bongani Maseko admitted that his side struggled to cope with the quality and experience of the Pirates outfit.
“In the first leg, we tried a defensive approach, aiming to hold the midfield and then counterattack after 15 minutes, but it did not go as planned,” Maseko explained.
He acknowledged that his team was exposed defensively by the Buccaneers’ relentless attacking play.
“Their aggressive attack left defensive gaps that we struggled to cover, which unfortunately cost us goals,” he added.
While the gulf in quality was evident over both legs, Maseko maintained that the experience will serve as a valuable learning curve for his squad.
“We will take these lessons and work hard to come back stronger. Lioli is a strong team with talented and hardworking players. Our goal now is to focus on the 2025/26 season and aim for a top-four finish,” he concluded.
On the Pirates’ side, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised his team’s patience and tactical discipline.
“We knew Lioli would set up defensively, so it was a matter of time to find the right moment to score and force them to open up. He pointed to the opening goal, scored before halftime, as the turning point. “We encouraged the players to take every chance to score, and they delivered,” Ouaddou said.
The focus now turns to the upcoming domestic season, where Lioli will need to re-establish their dominance in the Vodacom Premier League and secure qualification for CAF competitions once again.
This will demand not only consistent performances but also improved preparation to avoid another humbling experience on the African stage. For Orlando Pirates, the emphatic win propels them deeper into the Champions League as they set their sights on continental glory.
Summary
- Lioli Football Club’s return to continental football ended in disappointment as the Teyateyaneng giants were handed a harsh lesson by South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, underscoring the gulf in class between the two sides.
- Coupled with a 3-0 loss in the first leg played at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, the result sealed a 7-0 aggregate exit for the reigning Vodacom Premier League (VPL) champions at the tournament’s round of 32 stage.
- The focus now turns to the upcoming domestic season, where Lioli will need to re-establish their dominance in the Vodacom Premier League and secure qualification for CAF competitions once again.
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.
