Orlando Pirates have their date with destiny as they clash with Egyptian side Pyramids in the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg in Cairo on Friday.
Pirates are looking to make it to a third final in their illustrious history while Pyramids are in a new territory as they have never gotten this far in the competition.
Both sides played out a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium last Saturday but Pirates rode their luck as the Egyptian side had the ball in the net twice but VAR ruled out both of them.
Jose Riveiro’s team will need an improved performance in Cairo if they have to seal a place in the final to match the heroics of 1995, when they won it, and 2013 when they lost.
Head-to-head
This is the second time Pirates are meeting Pyramids following their first leg match which ended goalless, and all signs point to a tough night for the Buccaneers given what was witnessed at Orlando Stadium.
However, they are the fourth North African team Pirates are facing in the Champions League this season, having taken on Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and MC Alger while they also faced Egyptian giants and holders Al Ahly.
In all matches, Riveiro’s team have done well, beating Belouizdad home and away, holding Al Ahly at home before beating them away, both at the group stage, and secured a 1-0 away win against MC Alger before a goalless draw in the return leg at the quarter-final stage.
Having beaten all their North African opponents away, Pirates will be confident of doing the same to Pyramids, even if the first leg suggested it will be a tough outing.
Form Guide
Pirates come into the match on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions with six wins and three draws over that period, including victories against Mamelodi Sundowns and MC Alger.
Meanwhile, Pyramids have four wins from their last 10 games but what will give Pirates encouragement is that the Egyptian side have lost two and drawn as many of their last four and only scored one goal over that period.
Teams News
Pirates have no fresh injury concerns although it remains to be seen whom between Kabelo Dlamini and Patrick Maswanganyi will be preferred in the No.10 role and whether Tshegofatso Mabasa will continue to lead the attack or Evidence Makgopa will start upfront.
Pyramids will count on Fiston Mayele for goals after his high work rate put the Pirates defence in a spot of bother last weekend while the Congolese striker will hope to have found his shooting boots after missing clear chances in the first leg.
CAF inter-club pedigree
Of the two teams, Pirates have experience on the continent as they won the Champions League in 1995 and reached the 2013 final while also winning the CAF Super Cup in 1996.
The Soweto giants have also reached the CAF Confederation Cup final twice, losing both of them in 2015 and 2022, while for Pyramids, it is the first time they have gone this far in the Champions League.
The club, founded in 2008, made it to the 2020 Confederation Cup final, their best result in CAF inter-club competitions.
What have they said?
With an away goal vital for his team, Riveiro knows what is at stake and he is anticipating a tricky encounter in Cairo.
“This 0-0 result is tricky for both teams. We’re going to Egypt to try to get the result that we need. Trust me, we will do everything to make it possible to go to the final,” he told the media.
Time and where to watch
The match will kick off at 20:00 on Friday at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo and will be live on both SuperSport TV and SABC2.
Orlando Pirates Predicted XI
Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Xoxki, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha, Dlamini, Mofokeng, Makgopa
