When Orlando Pirates made it through to the final of the 2013 CAF Champions League final, they were the pride of the nation having done so brilliantly under Roger De Sa.

Only Mamelodi Sundowns had come close to sealing African success back in 2001, when they finished as the CCL runners-up.

It was the closest a South African side had come to repeating Pirates' feat in 1995, when they were crowned champions in the CCL.

Two years ago, many believed that De Sa’s team was capable of being crowned African champions again, but it wasn’t to be as Al Ahly edged them out in the final.

Today, a similar story has unfolded in the African tournaments. Pirates are once again the only remaining PSL team competing following their victory over Uganda's URA, while Sundowns and Chiefs were dumped out of the Champions League.

Pirates will now receive the backing of the whole nation when they take on Gabonese side CF Mounana in round two of the Confederation Cup.

This should be a relatively safe passage for the Buccaneers into round three, and with the likes of Zamalek and FUS Rabat taking each other on, as well as Royal Leopards meeting Congo’s AS Vita Club, there is a guarantee that some of the big guns will be eliminated in this round too.

The country should already be proud of Pirates, but there is an air of confidence that this pride will escalate all the way through to the finals... 

Do you think Pirates can make it all the way to the final once again?