Orlando Pirates boss sets sights on CAF Champions League redemption

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Orlando Pirates boss sets sights on CAF Champions League redemption

Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/ Gallo Images

17.10.26 09:00 CAF Champions League

African Stars

Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has set sights on guiding the Buccaneers to the CAF Champions League group stages after crashing out in the second preliminary round last season.

The Sea Robbers will do battle with Debmarine Namibia Premiership champions African Stars in a two-legged tie for a lucrative spot in the group phase of Africa's premier club competition.

Notably, Pirates fell short to Jwaneng Galaxy at this stage of the competition in the 2023/24 campaign, before suffering the same fate at the hands of FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo last term.

Ouaddou, as a result, is hell-bent on overcoming the second round hurdle this season, acknowledging the grave importance of securing a ticket to the next round of the prestigious tournament.

“It will be very important to come back with a positive result because it's really a big challenge for us, it's important this year to get in the group stages. Last season we were unfortunately knocked out by Lupopo,” said the Pirates boss.

"It's a big target this season, so we took a lesson from last season. It will be important to come back with a very good result at home in order to get an opportunity to qualify for the second game.

With the nine-time Namibian champions yet to commence their 2026/27 league campaign, Pirates will be forced to dig deep in their video analysis amid challenges with accessing recent footage.

“It's difficult [to get a footage] because they didn't start the league but at least we will be able to have some footage, and we have already started to study the team,” Ouaddou added.

"We have some information and we have to go a little bit deeper tomorrow and after tomorrow.

Pirates travel to Botswana National Stadium in the first leg of the encounter on Saturday, owing to a lack of CAF approved stadiums authorized to host continental matches in Namibia.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.