Orlando Pirates' defeat in the CAF Confederation Cup final sadly put any chance of having five South African teams in 2016's inter-club competitions to bed.
Read: How Pirates Could Land Fifth CAF Spot
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, as first and second in the 2014/15 Absa Premiership, earned their spot in the 2016 CAF Champions League, while third-placed Bidvest Wits and Nedbank Cup runner-up, Ajax Cape Town, will play in the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup.
Had the Buccaneers beaten Etoile du Sahel this weekend then they would have secured the chance to defend their title in 2016, however defeat means that they won't be playing continental football at all next year.
Pirates, who have reached two continental cup finals in the past three years, have however made sure that South Africa will keep four spots in CAF competitions for the foreseeable future, after their exploits added vital points onto Mzansi's place in CAF's Five-Year Ranking system.
With ESS having already qualified for the 2016 CL tournament through their league exploits this year, it remains to be seen who will take their spot in the CC, however it is thought that an extra Tunisian club will be given their spot.
Pirates now need to up their game domestically this season so that they can look to get back into CAF competition in 2017, however given their start to the league this year it seems unlikely that they will be able to climb up into the top three by the time the campaign comes to an end.
