CAF: Orlando Pirates gunning for top spot against Al Ahly

Thalente Mbatha of Orlando Pirates celebrates with teammates in CAF Champions League.

Orlando Pirates will look to cement the top spot in Group C when they face Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

Both teams have already qualified for the knockout rounds of the competition, with the Buccaneers currently in first place on the standings with 11 points.

Al Ahly follows closely in second with 10 points, ahead of eliminated sides CR Belouizdad and Stade d’Abidjan, meaning a draw will be enough for Bucs to end the round as group winners.

The last time these two sides faced each other, in the first round, the game ended in a goalless draw.

While Bucs come into this game on the back of a 2-1 win over Belouizdad, Al Ahly most recently recorded a 2-0 victory over El Gouna in the Egyptian Premier League.

They are top of the league standings as Pirates sit in second place on the Betway Premiership.

Ahead of the game, Bucs striker Tshegofatso Mabasa says he expects all three points this time around.

He said in the Citizen: “Yes, Al Ahly is a big team. But we are also a big team, and we want to finish first just as much as they want to finish first. The final game of the group will be a tough one, but we are up and ready for it.”

Mabasa added: “We’ve worked long and hard during preseason and now we’re reaping the rewards. This is also a build-up from last season because we were eliminated early but that motivated us to want it more this season

“Hopefully, we can continue to work hard and go all the way in this tournament. We are looking forward to going to the semifinals and we will take it from there. Hopefully, we can get that second star, but we are taking one game as it comes.”

Al Ahly will be missing six key players for this exciting match.

Al Ahly is, meanwhile, reportedly struggling with injuries, with star man Omar Kamal said to be sidelined with a knock.

Also missing from the Red Devils are Yahia Attiyat Allah, Karim Nedved, Karim Fouad, Reda Slim and Taher Mohamed.