Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has sent a message to his team after they defeated Al Ahly.
Ezimnyama Ngenkani clinched top spot in their CAF Champions League group with a 2-1 victory over Al Ahly in Cairo.
While both teams had already secured their place in the knockout stages, the battle for group supremacy remained.
Pirates emerged victorious, accumulating 14 points from their six group stage matches.
Riveiro conveyed to his team that their triumph against Al Ahly served as evidence of their capacity to compete successfully against teams of the highest caliber.
‘THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR US’
“I think overall, it was good performance for us. And I really appreciate the effort of my players. The level of resilience they showed against Al Ahly is very good for the future,”
“This is a message for us, for a young team to say and understand that we have the capacity to compete in games like this.
“I am not talking about the result, I am talking about the capacity to compete and staying in the game even at difficult times.
“That is what is important but for today, it’s the character and the personality of the team that matters in a scenario like this.”
However, Riveiro thinks it’s too early that they can think about whether they will be favourites in the knockout stages.
‘IT’S TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT UPCOMING ROUNDS’
“Today was very important and the match was full of competition between the two teams.
“The first half had one form and the second half had another form. I am happy with the level we presented and happy with the high level of the Orlando Pirates players.
“Beating the African champions on their home ground and advancing as group leaders is a big thing.
“I was saying before the match that this encounter is very important. And that winning the match and advancing as leaders is something we can be proud of.
“It is too early to talk about the upcoming rounds. The important thing is that we gave a strong performance in the group stage and achieved 14 points.
“We have a great technical staff, and we all work together to solve any problem we face. I do not work alone.”
