Orlando Pirates will have to travel to Botswana rather than Namibia for the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary-round tie against African Stars.
The Namibian champions do not currently have a stadium that meets CAF’s requirements for hosting international matches, forcing them to take their home fixture across the border.
African Stars have confirmed that the first leg will be played at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone on 17 October, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 Namibian time.
That means Pirates will face the Namibian champions in a different country when the two sides begin their battle for a place in the next phase of African football’s premier club competition.
African Stars forced to look outside Namibia
African Stars’ stadium situation has already affected their Champions League campaign.
The Namibian champions previously had to play their home fixture against AS Mangasport at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria after being unable to use a CAF-approved venue in Namibia.
They will now once again have to surrender home advantage in the traditional sense, with their meeting against Pirates set to take place in neighbouring Botswana.
The move means African Stars will not be able to welcome Pirates in front of their home supporters in Windhoek.
Instead, the Gaborone fixture will provide the backdrop for what promises to be an intriguing continental encounter.
African Stars survive dramatic first-round tie
African Stars booked their place in the second preliminary round after producing a comeback against AS Mangasport.
The Namibian champions suffered a 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Gabon, leaving them with a significant deficit to overturn in the return fixture.
They responded with a 2-0 victory to level the tie at 3-3 on aggregate.
The result was enough to see African Stars progress under the competition’s away-goals rule, setting up a meeting with Pirates.
Their reward is a two-legged tie against one of South Africa’s leading clubs, although the first encounter will take place outside Namibia.
Pirates book their place in round two
Orlando Pirates also had to overcome a tricky first-round tie before setting up the meeting with African Stars.
The Buccaneers were held to a 0-0 draw by Mauritian side La Cure Waves in the first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced heading into the return match in South Africa.
Pirates were then given an early scare when La Cure Waves took the lead through Ivan Ami in the sixth minute.
The Sea Robbers responded strongly, eventually securing a 3-1 victory and progressing with the same scoreline on aggregate.
That result booked Pirates’ place in the second preliminary round, where their next challenge will come against the Namibian champions.
Second leg set for Soweto
While African Stars will play their home fixture in Botswana, Pirates will have the advantage of hosting the second leg on home soil.
The return encounter is set to take place in Soweto, giving the Buccaneers an opportunity to complete the tie in front of their home supporters.
Pirates will therefore travel to Gaborone for the opening match before bringing African Stars back to South Africa for the decisive second leg.
The unusual arrangement adds another layer to a Champions League tie in which both clubs will be looking to reach the next stage of the competition.
For African Stars, the challenge will be to make the most of their temporary home in Botswana. For Pirates, the objective will be to put themselves in a strong position before returning to Soweto.
The first leg on 17 October will reveal which side holds the advantage heading into the return fixture.
