Soweto will be abuzz this Saturday afternoon when Orlando Pirates host Egyptian giants Al Ahly for their eagerly-awaited CAF Champions League Group C clash. All eyes will be at Orlando Stadium as the two group favourites reignite their exciting rivalry.
It promises to be another thrilling chapter in a list of key battles between two sides that have previously lifted the biggest trophy in African club football. The Egyptians head into the encounter as defending champions, having recently bagged a record 12th title, while the home side look to strengthen their challenge for a second triumph in the prestigious competitions.
Form Guide
Both sides had a winning start to their group stage campaign and currently occupy the top two spots in Group C. The Red Devils are higher up in the standings after beating Ivorian outfit Stade d’Abidjan 4-2 in Cairo to go clear on goal difference.
They played to league stalemates on either side of their clash against the West African outfit, drawing 1-1 at home against Al Ittihad before earning another league point in a goalless stalemate away to National Bank. Their two recent Premier League results are among the very few blemishes to their season thus far, following a near-perfect start where they added another Egyptian Super Cup title plus a CAF Super Cup triumph to their glowing trophy cabinet.
Al Ahly now head into the match against Pirates unbeaten in their five most recent outings, where they have claimed three victories along with their two league draws. They take on a side determined to bounce back from a disappointing result in their last fixture.
Following a remarkable 2-1 win away to CR Belouizdad in their Group C opener, the Buccaneers slumped to a narrow defeat at home to domestic rivals Stellenbosch last Sunday. It was their first loss in the league this season and resulted in them dropping from first to second place in the standings. It also ended a streak of five straight victories and was their second home defeat across competitions this season.
Like the visiting North Africans, the Soweto Giants have had a taste of cup success in the 2024/25 campaign. They will be eager to enhance their chances of claiming the biggest prize available to them this season by producing a performance that will place them in pole position for a spot in the knockouts.
Team News
There have been some key absentees throughout the season in both camps. Midfield pair Karim Nedved and Karim Fouad are both yet to feature for the visitors since the start of the ongoing campaign, while Egyptian international Emam Ashour could return after a short suspension.
Pirates have had similar injury issues, with the likes of Zakhele Lepasa and Goodman Mosele still on the mend. Coach Jose Riveiro has however confirmed that he has up to 36 fit squad members at his disposal, and the number includes players such as Thabiso Lebitso and Sandile Mthethwa who have been working their way back to match fitness over the past few weeks.
Players to Watch
With vast Champions League experience, Taher Mohamed will be one of the key men for the visitors as he comes into the clash in good form. The winger has had a hand in crucial goals in domestic and continental football, along with Palestinian international forward Wessam Abou Ali.
Bafana international forward Percy Tau is also among their notable goal-scoring threats while the Egyptians boast a number of reliable impact players elsewhere on the field in the likes of fullback Yahya Allah – a solid presence at both ends of the pitch. Experienced shot-stopper Mohammed El-Shenawy leads from between the sticks and has kept clean sheets in five of his nine club appearances this season.
Head-to-Head
Drawn in the same group for the first time since the 2013 edition of the Champions League where they eventually went on to contest the final, Pirates and Al Ahly are well acquainted. They have met a total of six times with the majority of their clashes occurring in the knockout stages of the two major continental interclub tournaments.
The Buccaneers currently sport a comfortable lead in terms of head-to-head results with three wins to the Red Devils’ solitary victory, which sealed the 2013 title. Things are a lot tighter as far as the Champions League is concerned with each side boasting a single win in their four matches.
The Soweto Giants are yet to claim a home victory against the Egyptians in the continents’ premier club competition, with their only triumph at Orlando Stadium coming in the 2015 Confed Cup semifinals where they secured a win in each of the two legs.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 15:00 and the match will be broadcast on SABC 3, SuperSport Variety 4 (209) while a live stream is also available on SABC+ . You can also keep up with the action by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.
Tickets to attend the match are sold out.
SOURCED FROM ORLANDO PIRATES WEBSITE.
