Striker Benni McCarthy (L) could not save Pirates
BBC
Former winners, Orlando Pirates went out of the African Champions League on Saturday at the first round stage, humbled by Angolan side Recreativo de Libolo.
Tipped as potential champions before the first round kicked off two weeks ago, the Johannesburg club suffered a shock 3-1 defeat in the home leg, reports the BBC.
They fared a little better in the return leg, drawing 1-1, but left themselves with too much to do and went out 4-2 on aggregate.
Striker, Benni McCarthy, now 34, was seeking to add an African Champions League medal to the European one he gained with Portuguese side Porto in 2004.
Pirates were one of two former champions in action. The other was Cairo-based Zamalek, who squeezed through 2-1 on aggregate against Young Africans of Tanzania.
Former Wigan Athletic striker Amr Zaki, who scored the late equaliser in Dar es Salaam, missed the match through injury.
Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam, though, was available after a lengthy lay-off, and it was his goal just past the half hour mark which decided the tie.
The world's most capped international, Ahmed Hassan, had the chance to ease the nerves but missed a 79th minute penalty.
Young Africans played much of the second half with ten men after defender, Abuu Ubwa was sent off.
Crowd trouble instigated by Zamalek fans during a Champions League qualifier in 2011, meant that the match was played behind closed doors.
Earlier on Saturday, Platinum of Zimbabwe proved too strong for Swaziland's Green Mamba. They triumphed 4-0 in the second leg, to go through 8-2 overall.
Platinum will next face Sudanese side Al Merreikh in the second round.
There were two ties settled on Friday, with aggregate wins for Algerian sides ASO Chlef and JSM Bejaia, over ASFA Yennega of Burkina Faso and Chad's Foullah Edifice respectively.
Still to come, Africa Sports of Cote d’Ivoire, who lost to Zamalek in the 1986 final on penalties, enjoy home support as they try to overcome a 3-2 deficit against Gabonese military outfit Missile.
There are several regional derbies with none more intriguing than the clash of Rwandan army club APR and Kenyan visitors Tusker in Kigali after a goalless first encounter.
The honour of being the first club to get a crack at reigning champions Esperance of Tunisia is likely to go to US Ouakam of Senegal, who have home advantage and a one-goal lead over Gambian side Brikama United.
Elsewhere, Equatorial Guinea side Sony Ela Nguema - who played friendlies against a Cote d’Ivoire XI during the Cup of Nations - face near-certain elimination as they take a three-goal defeat to Dolphins in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the opening leg of the clash between DR Congo's Vita Club and Atletico Olympic of Burundi has been delayed until 10 March.