Beaten 1-0 in the first leg, Namibian club African Stars take on Orlando Pirates on Friday night in Soweto for a place in the CAF Champions League group stage. Coach Gerald Günther refuses to give in to fear.
A place in the CAF Champions League group stage will be decided this Friday night in Soweto. African Stars go into the game a goal down after their 1-0 first-leg defeat, according to Soccer Laduma. The Namibian champions will have to turn things around away from home against a South African side that leads the tie.
The only goal of the first leg was scored by Tshepang Moremi, the Orlando Pirates striker. The Namibian camp, for its part, says it has fine-tuned its tactical plan to go and secure qualification on the road.
“No sign of fear”
On Friday morning, Gerald Günther, African Stars’ head coach, held his pre-match press conference. The coach dismissed any idea of apprehension about playing in the Soweto cauldron, despite the passion of its crowd. “We have to come here with confidence, we cannot walk in here and be intimidated by the opponents. We do respect them, 100%, but we cannot come in here and show any sign of fear,” he said, quoted by Soccer Laduma.
Asked about his team’s mental preparation, the Namibian coach was calm: “I don’t think there needs to be mental preparation. The guys know what kind of atmosphere is here in this particular stadium. I think they are really prepared to take it on board.” A firm message, with a place in the highly lucrative group stage at stake.
An unfavourable precedent
History does not favour the visitors. At this same stage of the competition, in December 2018, Orlando Pirates had already knocked out African Stars, winning 1-0 on aggregate over the two legs, Soccer Laduma reports. The Namibian club therefore face an opponent that has already beaten them at this stage.
To qualify, African Stars will have to erase that precedent and make up for the goal conceded in the first leg, on the pitch of an opponent they must beat in Soweto.
Appollis back, Sebelebele out
For Orlando Pirates, the evening will be marked by the return of Appollis, while the club will have to do without Sebelebele, Soccer Laduma reports.
Kick-off is scheduled for the evening, under the floodlights of Orlando Stadium, this Friday, 23 October 2026.