Orlando Pirates prepares for CAF Champions League match against La Cure Waves

Orlando Pirates have officially confirmed the re-signing of Bafana Bafana winger Mokhu Nkoto on loan from the Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.

The Soweto-based team has brought Nkoto back after a year in Saudi Arabia. His first season abroad had mixed results, and he ultimately could not continue playing due to injury.

Last season, Nkoto played 21 league matches for Al Ettifaq, starting 16 of them. He started his spell promisingly, scoring twice in the first two months, but then failed to maintain momentum and did not score after October.

His season was complicated by international commitments and injury. Nkoto was included in the Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and participated in the tournament, but did not play after the second group stage match against Angola.

Following this, his season was interrupted by a serious knee injury, which ruled him out of the national team and ultimately dashed hopes of making it into Hugo Broos' squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nkoto's return to Pirates gives him a chance to regain his form at a club where he previously established himself as an important attacking player.

The winger's breakthrough season came in 2024/25, when he provided seven goals and five assists in 39 matches across all competitions, starting 29 of them. These statistics demonstrated his ability to provide both creativity and goal threat from the flanks—qualities that Pirates aim to reclaim.

The return is also significant given the changes in the club's attacking lineup since that breakthrough season. Pirates have already lost Relobokhile Mofokeng, who moved to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, freeing up a spot for another young attacker who will have to take on greater responsibility.

Nkoto's familiarity with the club, combined with his previous productivity, gives coach Abdelsalam Wadee an additional option on the right flank as the Buccaneers continue their title defense.

After a difficult year abroad, this transfer is an opportunity for Nkoto to return to the environment where he first made his mark and remind Pirates and Bafana what he is capable of offering.

The Orlando Pirates team has taken a strong position in the tournament, but the defending champions still have tasks to complete to reach another final.

The Buccaneers hold a 1–0 advantage heading into the second semi-final match against Sekhukhune United, which will take place on Saturday at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Avoiding defeat will allow them to advance to their fifth consecutive final.

Pirates have dominated the competitions in recent seasons, winning the title four times in a row. This outstanding period has created expectations that the Buccaneers can go all the way again, but their immediate task is to handle the second game against Sekhukhune, who has nothing to lose.

The main danger for Pirates is that their advantage could provoke complacency. This week they have already beaten Babina Noko twice: the first match ended with a 1–0 victory, and on Tuesday they won the Betway Premiership 2–0.

This result gives Abdeslam Waddu's team significant psychological confidence, but it also means they will have to face an opponent determined to respond when it matters most.

The Buccaneers understand that the formula is simple: a draw is enough to advance. However, playing solely to defend one goal can carry risks. Sekhukhune is forced to attack, which should create opportunities for Pirates to use counterattacks.

Waddu's task will be to determine how aggressively his team should approach the match. Another early goal could effectively eliminate Sekhukhune from contention, while a goal conceded early in the game would immediately change the course of the confrontation.

Recent results from Pirates indicate that they are confident in handling this event. Botumelo Radiope opened the scoring in Tuesday's league match, and then Oswein Apollos added the second, giving Waddu additional attacking options before the decisive cup match.

However, the French coach realizes that Saturday's match cannot be seen as a repeat of Tuesday's encounter. The stakes are higher, and Sekhukhune's desperation will make them a completely different opponent.

For Pirates, reaching a fifth consecutive final will strengthen their outstanding dominance in the competition. Nevertheless, history will mean little if they fail to meet the challenge within the next 90 minutes. The Buccaneers have earned an advantage; now they need to prove they can maintain it.

The Orlando Pirates team has strengthened its position at the top of the Betway Premiership table by defeating Sekhukhune United FC 2-0 on Tuesday at the Orlando Amstel Arena stadium.

The Buccaneers achieved their second consecutive victory over Babina Noko after previously beating them in the first MTN8 semi-final match over the weekend. As a result, Pirates became the first team to accumulate ten points after the first four games of the season.

Premiership

With their main striker absent, Boitumelo Radiopane came onto the field and provided the breakthrough in the 36th minute. The 24-year-old player demonstrated excellent intuition in the penalty area, evading a defender in tight space before shooting into the lower corner of the goal guarded by Melusi Butelezi.

Radiopane scored his first goal in the starting lineup. After the break, Radiopane was once again in the spotlight for Pirates, creating another high-quality chance in the 62nd minute. The forward broke past the Sekhukhune defense line and showed impressive composure by passing to Oswin Apollos, who only needed to beat Butelezi.

The Bafana Bafana winger did not miss the opportunity, calmly finishing the attack and increasing Pirates' lead to two goals. This was another carefully planned move by Apollos, who had not played a full 90 minutes this season due to participation in the World Cup with Bafana.

The victory was secured in the second match between the teams within four days, and Pirates were once again too strong for Sekhukhune, which struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Although Radiopane could have scored a brace, he selflessly passed the ball to the player celebrating his birthday.

The teams will meet for a third time next Saturday, when the winner of the MTN8 semi-final will be decided. Although Ouaddou made several changes to the squad that played in the first match, potentially aiming for the decisive second match, the rotation did not affect the overall structure of Pirates, who controlled the game and kept a clean sheet.

Sekhukhune coach Cedric Khase viewed this result as another defeat against the same team, despite his team showing improvements in certain periods during the first encounter. Now Pirates will focus on the MTN8, maintaining a 1-0 advantage before the second match against Babina Noko and confidence in another victory over them.