JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 07: Orlando Pirates team during the CAF Champions League match between Orlando Pirates and Al Ahly SC at Orlando Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates will be fighting to finish top of their CAF Champions League group when they visit Al Ahly on Saturday evening at Cairo International Stadium.
CAF Champions League
Teams: Al Ahly v Orlando Pirates
Date: 18 January 2025
Venue: Cairo International Stadium
Time: 18h00
Pirates booked their spot in the quarter-finals after edging CR Belouizdad 2-1 last weekend thanks to goals by Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalenthe Mbatha in a penultimate Group C encounter.
The Buccaneers are currently top of the section with 11 points, one point ahead of second-placed Al Ahly and need at least a draw to finish the group campaign at the top.
The Red Devils also qualified for the last eight with a match to spare after a 3-1 win over Stade d’Abidjan courtesy of a hat-trick from behind by Emam Ashour.
Marcel Koller’s charges need to beat Pirates to end the group as winners.
Unlike the Soweto giants who had no midweek encounter, Al Ahly were in league action after they beat El Gouna 2-0 with Ashour scoring both the goals.
The sides played to a goalless draw in their first encounter in the section in early December at Orlando Stadium.
Here’s how they line up:
Al Ahly: Shoebir, Abdelfattah, Rabia, Ibrahim, Karim, Attia, Ashour, Kouka, Afsha, El-Saiy, Abou-Ali
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Lebitso, Sesane, Sibisi, Mako, Makhaula, Mbatha, Hotto, Maswanganyi, Mofoekng, Makgopa.
Subs: Buthelezi, Gilberto, Dlamini, Mabasa, Kimvuidi, Xoki, Rasebotja, Nkota, Ndlozi.
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