Orlando Pirates will be determined to finish the job against La Cure Waves when the two sides meet in the second leg of their CAF Champions League first qualifying round tie later today, with a place in the next stage at stake.
Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will be expecting an improved display from the Buccaneers after they were frustrated in the opening encounter, which ended in a goalless draw at the Cote-d’Or National Sports Complex last Sunday.
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With the tie still finely poised, Pirates will be looking to make home advantage count and secure their passage to the next round of Africa’s premier club competition.
While Pirates won a domestic treble last season, they were eliminated from the CAF Champions League by DR Congo side St Eloi Lupopo in the second qualifying round.
Bucs and La Cure resume hostilities at the Amstel Orlando Area, with the Pirates boss recently saying on FARPost: “The top priority will definitely be to keep our league title. But having said that, the Champions League was an area last season where we were a bit disappointing.
“It [Champions League] is something that is very important to us, so we will have to focus very well on the preliminary games to get to the group stage. It’s really another target for us.”
La Cure Waves head coach Jerome Thomas knows his side will need another top performance if they are to see off Pirates and progress to the CAF Champions League Second qualifying round.
“We know the calibre of Orlando Pirates, who are on another level. You can’t compare the two teams. They are professionals, and we are an amateur team,” said Thomas on Lemauricien.
“I know it will be a very tough match. Orlando Pirates have had their pride wounded and will come out looking to hurt us in front of their home crowd. As for us, we need to keep possession well when we have the ball and be clinical in front of goal,” he added on Le Defi Sport.
Ouaddou, meanwhile, confirmed an injury to Sihle Nduli but said he is fighting with a near fully fit squad.
“I think you remember that we had Nduli that had a big injury. He’s out, you know, during the game of AmaZulu. We hope to receive him as soon as possible,” he said on Soccer Laduma.
“At the same time, I think the medical room is starting to be empty. And it’s good news. And most of the players are now in rehabilitation. It’s just the phase before coming with the team.”
The winner of this fixture will face the winner of the clash between Gabon’s Mangasport and Namibia’s African Stars.