Orlando Pirates skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi is drawing confidence from South Africa’s recent World Cup qualification success, hoping the national team’s momentum will energize the Buccaneers’ CAF Confederation Cup journey.
Today, the Mighty Buccaneers will lock horns with Congolese outfit AS Vita Club in Lubumbashi for the first leg of their second-round preliminary clash, aiming to carry the nation’s winning spirit into continental competition.
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Sibisi, along with six of his teammates—Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha, Evidence Makgopa, Sipho Mbule, Sipho Chaine, and Tshepang Moremi—were part of the Bafana Bafana squad that secured a triumphant 3-0 win over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium, sealing South Africa’s ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
World Cup Confidence: A Crucial Edge
The captain believes that achieving international success provides a significant mental boost as the team shifts focus back to club duties.
“The confidence we’ve gained from qualifying Bafana for the World Cup will help us a lot in the DRC on Sunday,” Sibisi told Sowetan. “We’ve returned with boosted morale, and I hope we can use that energy against Lupopo.”
Match Fitness vs. Continental Caution
Pirates enter the contest with a potential advantage in match fitness. The Buccaneers have already played 14 matches across all competitions this season, establishing a solid rhythm.
In stark contrast, AS Vita Club (Lupopo) has yet to kick off their domestic campaign, with the Congolese national league’s start date still uncertain due to issues described by continental outlets like Afrique Sport.
While Sibisi acknowledged that the heavy workload might give them a slight edge, he cautioned against relying on the opposition’s lack of activity.
“The fact that we’ve played more games might give us a small advantage because we have momentum, but we’re not relying on that,” he said, stressing that complacency could be disastrous. “If we’re not at our best on the day, we can still suffer.”
The Buccaneers’ objective for the weekend is clear and focused: secure a crucial away result to make the job easier in the decisive second leg, which they will host next weekend in Johannesburg.
The winner of this two-legged tie will advance directly to the highly anticipated group stages of the continental tournament.
“We know what we have to do — we need a positive result that makes the job easier in the second leg at home,” the captain concluded.