On September 20, 2025, the CAF Champions League qualifiers will feature a historic match between Liyoli from Lesotho and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, kicking off at 15:00 Central European Time. Let’s examine the teams ahead of this encounter.
Liyoli
Liyoli, the current champions of Lesotho, have won the national title twice in a row and will represent their country on a larger stage. They have only played one domestic league match this season, which they won 5-0, making it hard to assess their current form. In past CAF Champions League appearances, Liyoli has not made a significant impact but aims to perform better this year in their first match against Orlando Pirates.
Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates are a well-known name in African football. Last season, they reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals but lost to Egypt’s Pyramids. They have started this season well, sitting seventh in the league with 9 points from five matches. A recent highlight is their win in the MTN8 Cup, where they defeated Stellenbosch in the final. The Pirates are performing strongly, remaining unbeaten in their last six matches, and are favorites going into this game.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Orlando Pirates are unbeaten in their last 6 matches.
- 15 of Orlando Pirates’ last 17 matches have had fewer than 2.5 goals.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
Liyoli vs Orlando Pirates match prediction
Orlando Pirates are favored to win this match. They are in strong form, coming off a trophy win and an unbeaten run, while Liyoli is just starting their season and lacks experience at this level. The difference in quality and preparation is notable. Therefore, expect the Pirates to perform confidently and advance to the next round. My prediction for this match is over 3 goals at odds of 1.53.