CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Mihlali Baleka|Published
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says they cannot afford to miss out on the CAF Champions League group stage this season, emphasizing the need for a strong performance in their qualifier against African Stars.
Pirates' failure to qualify for Africa's premier club tournament last season sparked sharp criticism from fans, with some calling for Ouaddou's dismissal – particularly after the Buccaneers reached the semi-finals the previous year.
However, the club’s bosses maintained faith in the tactician, who repaid their backing domestically by securing the Betway Premiership, MTN8, and Carling Knockout titles.
Having failed to defend their MTN8 crown this season, Ouaddou must now prioritise continental success while keeping Pirates competitive on the domestic front.
The Buccaneers stand on the brink of the group stage after overcoming La Cure Waves in the opening qualifying round. They face Namibian side African Stars at a neutral venue in Botswana on Saturday before hosting the second leg at Orlando Stadium a week later.
“It will be important to come back with a positive result,” Ouaddou said. “It’s a big year, so we need to get back into the group stage. Last season, we were knocked out by St. Eloi Lupopo, so this is a major target.
“We learned our lesson from last season. It’s crucial to return home with a solid result to position ourselves well for the next round.”
Despite the Namibian top flight not yet underway, Ouaddou confirmed that his technical team has gathered some information on their opponents.
“It’s challenging because their league hasn't started, but we've managed to obtain video footage,” Ouaddou explained. “We’ve begun analysing them and have good information, which we’ll study further on Thursday and Friday.”
Following their continental assignment, Pirates will turn their attention to starting their Carling Knockout defence against Milford FC at home, with the fixture date awaiting confirmation by the PSL. Ouaddou expects a stern test.
“Playing at home in front of our supporters gives us a good advantage,” Ouaddou noted. “However, it will still be a demanding game. When we played Milford earlier in the season, I said few teams would beat them, and they've proven that. They are well-coached, disciplined, highly organised, and playing with great confidence.”