The drums in Lubumbashi are beating a little faster this week, and it’s not just the traffic outside Stade de la Victoire. It’s the pulse—crackling, electric—of anticipation as Saint Eloi Lupopo prepare to host the juggernauts from Soweto, the Orlando Pirates, in a CAF Champions League clash that feels less like a group stage game and more like a crossroads for two clubs with very different relationships to continental glory.
Let’s paint the backdrop first: Orlando Pirates have swaggered into this competition with the quiet arrogance of a team that has found its rhythm and refuses to let the band stop playing. Top of the group, no losses, fourteen points in the bank, and a run of form that would make even their fiercest rivals scramble for the scouting report—undefeated in their last six, racking up wins like frequent flyer miles. Their recent performances have had an almost mechanical efficiency: a 4-0 demolition job against Lioli, hard-fought 1-0s, and the kind of late goals that break more than just hearts. It’s a team built on discipline at the back and patience going forward, capped off by the kind of squad depth that lets you rotate the line-up without losing your groove.
Then there’s Saint Eloi Lupopo, the hosts, who might as well be the plucky underdogs Hollywood keeps writing scripts about. Nineteenth in the standings—but with the kind of home form that says, “Not in our house, you don’t.” Their goals are hard-earned, their matches tight: a 1-0 win here, a scoreless draw there, but always the sense they’re one moment of magic—or madness—from turning their campaign upside down. They average just 0.5 goals a game in their last two, but don’t let the numbers fool you; sometimes the most dangerous snake is the one not making any noise.
Now, every great match-up has its cast of characters, and this one is no exception. For the Pirates, look for Mbekezeli Mbokazi to anchor the defense. The captain, all of 20 years old but seemingly forged from old-school steel, is coming back early from international duty after a red card in a World Cup qualifier—tough luck for Bafana Bafana, but a blessing for Pirates fans who want him fresh. The kid’s defensive nous and leadership have been central to the Pirates’ impressive run, and after 15 matches for club and country, you can bet a week’s rest will have him snarling and snapping at any Lupopo forward brave enough to take him on.
Up front, Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa are the men with the golden boots. Makgopa has shown a knack for finding space where there shouldn’t be any, while Mabasa’s recent double against Lioli is the sort of form that keeps center-backs awake at night. And if you’re looking for late-game drama, Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi have been making a habit of scoring after the 80th minute. If you’re a Lupopo supporter, maybe skip the last ten minutes and check the final score later.
Lupopo, meanwhile, is a tough nut to crack at home. They’re not here to out-dazzle, they’re here to outlast. Their best performances have come from a compact, almost stubborn defensive unit. Scoring just once in their last two, they prefer their matches like a late-night Congolese café—tight, tense, loaded with possibility. They thrive on chaos, on the noise of the home crowd, and on the hope that one counterattack or corner will tilt the narrative in their favor.
The tactical chessboard is set: Pirates with their cool possession and sharp, vertical transitions; Lupopo with backs-to-the-wall resilience and the ambition to catch the favorites napping. The midfield will be a battleground—expect Pirates to try to impose their passing rhythm early, cycling possession, drawing Lupopo out, and looking for that one killer ball. Lupopo, in return, will dig in, frustrate, and look to feed off set pieces and the break. If the Pirates get an early goal, it could be a long night for the home side. If not, expect the tension to stretch tighter than a drumskin.
And what’s at stake? For the Pirates, it’s about consolidating their dominance in the group and silencing any whispers of complacency. For Lupopo, it’s pride, belief, and the chance to flip the script in front of an adoring home crowd. Win here, and suddenly the group’s pecking order doesn’t look so permanent. Lose, and the gap between contenders and dreamers grows just a little wider.
So as kickoff approaches, both teams stand on the edge of something—Pirates chasing the relentless march forward, Lupopo ready to remind us why you never count out the home side in Africa. One side humming with expectation, the other bristling with hope. The kind of match where a single moment could be replayed in the minds of supporters for years.
Whatever you do, don’t blink. If recent form is anything to go by, the next chapter in this story won’t be written in pencil.