Nkota Shines In Champions League Debut For Pirates

Mohau Nkota’s stellar performance led Orlando Pirates to a historic 2-1 victory over CR Belouizdad in their opening CAF Champions League group stage match at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 on Tuesday night.

The young South African forward was the star of the show, scoring a brace in the first half to give Pirates a commanding lead. Nkota’s first goal came in the fifth minute, a clinical finish after a well-timed pass from Relebohile Mofokeng. He doubled the lead with a spectacular long-range strike in the 27th minute, leaving the Algerian side stunned.

CR Belouizdad started this game with an experienced forward Islam Slimani, their skipper, who started his career at the Algerian side.  

He then furthered his career by playing for Sporting Lisbon, Leicester City, Newcastle United, Fenerbahce, Monaco, Lyon, Anderlecht, Coritiba, and Mechelen before rejoining Belouizdad during the off-season.  

The 36-year-old was part of Algeria side that won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in the 2019 in Egypt when they defeated Senegal in the final.   

He got the chance in the first half but flashed it wide. 

However, Pirates took the game to the home side and Nkota fired from close range after he was set up by Mofokeng, sprinting through to slot at the far corner in the fifth minute.  

Pirates benefitted from the long kick by their goalkeeper Sipho Chaine that bypassed a few lines and it was aided by the flick by Evidence Makgopa before they made the telling blow at the other end.  

It was one end to another as Pirates goalkeeper Chaine made two brilliant saves and the other from the follow-through as the momentum swung to the Algerian champions.  

A moment later, Nkota should have made it 2-0 for Pirates, sprinting clear again on goal but Belouizdad goalkeeper Moustafa Zeghba made a brilliant save to keep his side safe. The follow-up by Patrick Maswanganyi went wide.          

However, Nkota doubled the lead with a blinding strike from range in the 27^th minute to leave Zeghba with no chance as the ball flew into the top corner. This was just Nkota’s first appearance in the Champions League, marking the occasion he won’t forget anytime soon.    

South African international Mayo was thrown in by Belouizdad coach Abdelkader Amrani just before half time as they were looking to get back into the game that was fizzling out in their grasp.  

Belouizdad appeared to improve with Mayo involved up front with Slimani, a clear indication that he knew Pirates players having scored against them when the claimed the PSL Golden Boot in the 2022/23 season with Cape Town City.  

Belouizdad continued to be better in the second half and they came close to opening the scoring in the 64^th minute through Aimen Mahious.  

However, Mayo was left unmarked in the box and scored for Belouizdad in the 66^th with a header.  

Belouizdad, backed by the flares lit up in the stands, was much better and pinned Pirates in their half.

Pirates continued to be under siege from the attack of Belouizdad, with gaps at the top left open and Maswanganyi was once seen furiously urging his teammates to come out of their half and press the home side.  

There was a nervy moment for Pirates in the referee’s optional time with an appeal for the penalty but referee Masangune Louis Mwamba waved it away. But Pirates was able to hang on to a big victory in the group stages in the Champions League away for the first time in 10 years.