Saturday | December 7, 2024

Orlando Pirates Football Club go into their second bid for the highest prize in Africa club football against Al Ahly Sporting Club (SC) at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, today at 15h00.

This is a Group C match in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

The host, Pirates, won its first in this group; so did their rivals today, Al Ahly. Therefore, both teams collected three maximum points in these opening group games.In this regard, the Egyptian juggernaut clobbered Stade d’Abidjan from Ivory Coast 4-2 at home on November 26, 2024.

While the 12-time CAF Champions League are traveling to South Africa in their initial clash with Pirates, the Ivorians are at home to Chabab Riadhi (CR) Belouizdad in their second Group C fixture at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan in Ivory Coast tonight at 18h00.

Of course, Pirates beat CR Belouizdad 2-1 away in Algeria on November 26. However, Al Ahly are on top of the group because of their goal advantage when juxtaposed with Pirates.

In the country, Pirates will return to this fixture when they visit Egypt on January 17, 2025, to face their opponents today.

But the eminent challenges lay before them this afternoon in Soweto where both clubs will seek to open a 3-point gap on the standings.

Al Ahly SC are the current holders of the CAF Champions League and started this 2024/2025 campaign well in their defense of the throne. On the other hand, Orlando Pirates tasted this trophy in 1995; that is nearly three decades ago.

If anything, Pirates will be more hungry and determined to turn the long tide and get back to the top-football charts by overcoming Al Ahly and subsequent games. This will make them a good stead to increase their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds and from there, anything possible.