Soweto giants miss out on CAF spot as three PSL teams join Sundowns in Africa

Orlando Pirates failed to qualify for African football for the first time in five years following their 2-0 defeat to SuperSport United on Monday in the final game of the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season.

The Buccaneers end the campaign in the sixth position, while SuperSport climbs ahead of Golden Arrows into eighth place due to a superior goal difference.

After Pirates' CAF Confederation Cup loss to RS Berkane, the Soweto giants had three Premiership games to honour.

They had a chance to qualify for both of CAF's premier club competitions if they could win their remaining matches.

Pirates only generated four points out of a possible nine from their final three matches: A victory over Maritzburg United, a draw with Royal AM and a loss to SuperSport.

Kaizer Chiefs, who confirmed Arthur Zwane as their new head coach, will also miss out on playing in Africa next season after the fifth-place finish in the league. 

Meanwhile, Cape Town City FC will be joining Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Champions League next season.

The Citizens head coach Eric Tinkler returned to the club in May last year and has done a remarkable job in taking the club from fighting for a top-eight spot to a second-place finish in the 2021/22 campaign.

Top-flight newbies Royal AM, whose owner Shauwn Mkhize bought, relocated and renamed Bloemfontein Celtic last year, finished third in their first-ever season.

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They will participate in the Confederation Cup alongside Marumo Gallants despite not winning the Nedbank Cup final last weekend against Sundowns.

With Sundowns winning both the league and Nedbank Cup, Gallants, who finished as runners-up last week, will