Orlando Pirates conceded a late-goal to lose 1-0 to Enyimba in Aba but that loss did not stop them from booking their spot in the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
Pirates had some key players missing as they were without Thulani Hlatshwayo and Happy Jele in defence, while they named no goalkeeper on the bench because Richard Ofori and Siyabonga Mpontshane missed out through injury.
The Buccaneers could have had the opener in the opening 15 minutes of the game when Vincent Pule’s effort rattled the crossbar from a free-kick from around 30 yards out.
Enyimba needed at least a win to stand a chance in the next round and had to wait till the 39th minute before forcing Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands into a save.
After the first half, the Elephants came out firing in the second half with more zeal and urgency in the second half and should have taken the lead when Anayo Iwuala was found in the box by Samad Kadiri in the 65th minute but his effort was blasted well over the bar.
Zinnbauer introduced Wayde Jooste for Siphesihle Ndlovu in the final ten minutes as they hope to see out the game.
Enyimba thought they had snatch the winning goal in the 90th minute when Tosin Omoyele’s flick beat Sandilands but the effort was chalked off for offside.
The goal eventually came for the Nigerians in stoppage time when Anayo’s low ball across the face of goal was turned home emphatically by Cyril Olisema to seal top spot finish for the hosts.
Despite suffering defeat, Pirates still advanced to the second round as runners-up in Group A after ES Setif defeated Al-Ahli Benghazi in the other group game.
The result saw South African teams continue their woeful run of 15 visits to Nigerian soil with no win on continental competitions.
The draw for the quarter-finals will be held on Friday, with Pirates now set to know their next opponents as they continue their push for continental glory.