Orlando Pirates are gearing up for a pivotal TotalEnergies CAF Champions League semi-final showdown, hosting Pyramids FC of Egypt at the 30 June Stadium this evening. The Buccaneers, enjoying a rich vein of form under head coach Jose Riveiro, are on a mission to emulate the feats of past Pirates generations, including the celebrated 1995 champions and the 2013 finalists.
VAR Aftermath
The first leg was marred by the palpable frustration of Pyramids FC’s coach, Krunoslav Jurčić. The experienced 55-year-old Croatian vehemently asserted that his team had, in fact, defeated Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Johannesburg.
His conviction stemmed from two incidents where goals were disallowed. The first involved Congolese forward Fiston Mayele, who was deemed to be offside. The second controversial moment saw Nigerian midfielder Sodiq Ougola handle the ball into the net.
Despite admitting that he had not reviewed replays of these contentious decisions, Jurčić remained resolute in his post-match assessment. He told reporters, “We scored two goals, we won the match 2-0 after an excellent performance.
I am proud of how my players performed and how many scoring chances they created. I am, however, frustrated by the disallowed goals.” This strong belief, even if based on a potentially inaccurate recollection, could serve as a powerful motivator for his Pyramids side heading into the crucial second leg.
Form Guide
Orlando Pirates stand alone as the only unbeaten team remaining in this season’s prestigious TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. Their hard-fought 0-0 draw against Pyramids extended their unbeaten streak across all competitions to an impressive nine matches, marking their second stalemate in their last four outings.
Pyramids can draw significant strength from their formidable home record in this Champions League campaign. They remain undefeated on their own turf, their only dropped points being a draw against FC Nouadhibou in the preliminary round.
Since then, they have established their stadium as a daunting venue for visiting teams, securing an impressive six consecutive victories on home soil. This stark contrast between their recent overall form and their unblemished home record sets up an intriguing dynamic for the second leg, where they will be determined to maintain their fortress mentality against a confident Orlando Pirates side.
What they said
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro told the media, “It was a tight game in Soweto, and both teams showed they belong at this level,” Riveiro said. “It’s wide open, and we’re ready to fight for a spot in the final.”
Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic expressed confidence in his team’s ability to turn the tie around. “We created chances in the first leg but didn’t convert,” Jurcic said. “If we sharpen our finishing and replicate that performance, we have a real chance to reach the final.”
How to watch
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League match is scheduled to kick-off at 20:00 on Friday, 25 April 2025 and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary.
The match will be broadcast live on satellite TV giants SuperSport channel 202 and can also be streamed on Showmax, with the build-up set to commence an hour prior to kick off.
Additionally, the match will be broadcast live on SABC 2 and can be streamed on SABC Plus and SABC Sport digital platforms.
30 June Stadium
The 30 000 seater stadium will host the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League clash between Pyramids and Orlando Pirates. The Cairo based stadium was officially opened on 2 July 2012 and was constructed by the Egyptian Air Defense Forces as part of their Air Defense Sport Village.
The stadium hosted several matches during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, including Group C fixtures and knockout stage games. Since 2018, the stadium has served as the home ground for Pyramids FC, a club known for its significant financial investments and achievements in Egyptian football
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Pyramids 9/10 | Draw 16/10 | Orlando Pirates 38/10
After securing a positive result in the first leg, Pyramids will look to complete their rapid rise by reaching a final in just their first TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign. I think they will have too much firepower for this Orlando Pirates outfit.
Back Pyramids and over 2.5 goals at 32/10!