sportskeeda
Jose Riveiro, head coach of Orlando Pirates, has shared reflections from their encounter with the seasoned CAF Champions League squad, Al Ahly.
On Saturday, the Red Devils faced off against Pirates at Orlando Stadium for the second matchday of the CAF Champions League, resulting in a 0-0 stalemate.
The last meeting between these two teams was in 2015 during the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, where the Buccaneers emerged victorious with a 4-3 win away from home.
Currently, both teams have accumulated four points, with only goal difference separating them; Al Ahly leads in first position while Pirates are in second place.
Riveiro expressed his contentment with his team’s performance, highlighting the valuable experience gained from competing against a seasoned outfit like Al Ahly in the Champions League.
“The main lesson for us is that with a high level of focus, ambition, and determination, we can hold our own against any adversary,” Riveiro stated.
“We went into this match with relatively little experience, facing a team rich in tournament experience. We managed to control significant areas and demonstrated our superiority at times.
“The level of performance from Pirates players, coupled with the support of our fans, is remarkable. In Orlando, alongside our supporters, we transform into a formidable team.”
Pirates are preparing for a trip to Ivory Coast on Saturday for their third group stage match against Stade d’Abidjan.
The Spanish coach recognizes that this upcoming fixture will be challenging, but they are determined to secure maximum points.
“They are tactically adept, and playing away will indeed be a test,” Riveiro acknowledged.
“Nonetheless, I remain hopeful and view this match as yet another chance for us to strive for three points. Securing those points would be fantastic, but we know that hard work is critical to achieving it, just as we did in Algeria and against Al Ahly.”
The Ivorian team currently sits at the bottom of the group and has not yet registered a point, having lost both of their initial matches to Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad.
