Orlando Pirates face a double-header against Ivorian Ligue 1 side Stade d’Abidjan in their next two CAF Champions League fixtures. These encounters promise to be crucial in determining the Buccaneers’ trajectory in Group C.
A Tale of Similarities
Like Orlando Pirates, Stade d’Abidjan earned their spot in the Champions League as runners-up in their domestic league, finishing behind champions San-Pedro. But the similarities don’t end there.Though not as recognised as their neighbors and rivals, ASEC Mimosas, Stade d’Abidjan, affectionately known as Les Yèyès, boast a rich history.
Formed in 1938 under the name ASFIF Abidjan, they share a similar age group to the Buccaneers. Their crowning achievement came in 1966 when they lifted the CAF Champions League. They returned to the continental showpiece in 1967 and 1970, but only went as far as the Quarterfinals on both occasions.
Current Campaign
Fast forward to the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign, and Stade d’Abidjan find themselves in a challenging position. They sit at the bottom of Group C after back-to-back losses against Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad respectively.
While their form may suggest an easier outing for the Buccaneers, Head Coach José Riveiro has warned his players about underestimating their opponents, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by the Ivorian side.
Recent Form: W – D – L – L – L
Stade d’Abidjan have endured a tough run, losing their last three competitive matches. They suffered a 4-2 defeat to Al Ahly in the Champions League, a 2-0 loss to Bouaké in Ligue 1, and most recently, a narrow 1-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad. Head Coach Alexandre Lafitte will approach Saturday’s match knowing anything less than a win could all but dash their chances of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition .
Tactical Overview
Different Tactical Styles
Having faced North African teams like Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad, Pirates can expect a shift in tactical dynamics when facing a West African side like Stade d’Abidjan. While North African football often emphasizes tactical discipline, set-piece proficiency, and structured play, West African teams are renowned for their intensity, individual flair, and physicality.
The region has produced globally celebrated talents like Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) to name a few.
Key Threats
One-on-One Dribblers
Positional play has dominated modern football, thanks to coaches like Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, who have revolutionized the game with their view on the game. Cruyff started it but Guardiola has gone on to perfect the concept that focuses on prioritizing space manipulation. However, in countries like Ivory Coast, the art of the one-on-one dribbler remains alive. Two Stade d’Abidjan players rank among the Top 5 dribblers in this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League:
- Tayeb Meziani (MC Alger): 14 dribbles
- Pacome Zouzoua (Young Africans): 14
- Oscar Kabwit (TP Mazembe): 11
- Sean-Jean Kore (Stade d’Abidjan): 9
- Roger Assalé (Stade d’Abidjan): 8
For context, Orlando Pirates’ highest-ranking player in this metric is Relebohile Mofokeng with six. Additionally, Roger Assalé boasts a superior dribble success rate of 37.5% compared to Mofokeng’s 16.7%. At 31, Assalé brings valuable European experience, having played for clubs like Young Boys, Leganés, and Dijon.
Trigger Happy
While Kore’s dribbling success rate is modest (11%), his impact is felt in his shooting. The 26-year-old forward ranks second in shots taken (7) in the competition, trailing only Ibrahim Adel of Pyramids FC. By comparison, Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng have taken four shots each but have played only one match apiece.
The Conductor
Often overlooked, the pivot role is critical in controlling a team’s tempo. Stade d’Abidjan’s 32-year-old Essis Aka is their orchestrator, ranking among the Top Five carriers in the Champions League. The role of the pivot is one that doesn’t get much attention. Often the focus is on the attacking players .
The recent Ballon D’or that went to Rodri created a lot of debate. With many arguing that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jnr was robbed. However if there was a reason to motivate the justification for Rodri’s case. Take a look at his clubs record before his injury and post. Prior to his injury City went 74 games undefeated and post his injury- the rest his history.
Coming back to Essis Aka. The Ivorian’s have their own Conductor of sorts. He is the one who controls the tempo and rhythm of his side. In the Champions League so far the 32 year old ranks in the Top Five terms of Carries (excl defenders) with 82 carries over the two matches
- Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns): 154
- Marcelo Allende (Sundowns): 110
- Lucas Ribeiro (Sundowns): 95
- Marwan Attia (Al Ahly): 90
- Essis Aka (Stade d’Abidjan): 82
Aka’s ability to dictate play will be pivotal for his teams side. Despite their position at the foot of Group C, Stade d’Abidjan remain a dangerous side, blending individual brilliance with collective resilience. For Orlando Pirates, focus and discipline will be key to securing maximum points and bolstering their ambitions in the competition.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
