Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana believes Orlando Pirates can go all the way in the CAF Champions League and reach the final.
Pirates have been impressive in the Champions League this season and extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches when they secured a vital 1-0 win away to Algerian side MC Alger in the quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night.
Mohau Nkota’s 65th minute goal made all the difference for the Soweto giants, who secured an important away goal to take to the return leg at Orlando Stadium next Wednesday, the win coming after Mamelodi Sundowns had beaten Tunisia’s Esperance at Loftus Versfeld earlier in the day.
Kekana impressed by Pirates’ run
Kekana is impressed by what he has seen from Buccaneers and is tipping them to make it to the final where he hopes they can meet his former team Sundowns.
“They have a big chance,” the former Sundowns captain told iDiski Times.
“I am fascinated by the fact that everybody seems to think they have an easy fixture. There’s no easy match in the Champions League. It is a big task, but Pirates are doing well now that their players have been exposed to African football.
‘They showed when they beat Belouizdad with comfort and some good goals in their own backyard; and they even beat Al Ahly in Cairo.
What is Sundowns legend’s CCL wish?
“I fancy them to win this match [against Alger] both away and home. It would be nice to see them in the final and I’d love to see a Pirates vs Sundowns final. That would be the ideal match for us South Africans, right?”
Pirates are in the Champions League quarter-final for the first time since 2013 but have not looked like they were away from that stage for such a long time given the way they have gone about their business.
Riveiro’s team finished top of their group, which had Egyptian giants and defending champions Al Ahly, to earn a place in the quarter-final.
