CAFCL

Orlando Pirates’ first half of the 2024/25 season has been near flawless thus far, but the backend of the current year presents a different challenge as they prepare to kick off the group phase of their CAF Champions League campaign. It begins with a trip to Algeria, where they will face Group C rivals CR Belouizdad at Stade Du 5 Juillet on Tuesday night.

The trip to North Africa is not only a tough assignment for the 1995 champions, but an opportunity to signal intent as they return to the competition for the first time since 2019. They have been drawn in a tricky group that also features record winners and reigning champs Al Ahly of Egypt as well as Ivorian giants Stade d’Abidjan.

At the forefront of the Mighty Buccaneers’ immediate priorities will be mapping out a plan to topple their first Algerian opposition in the Champions League in nearly 30 years. Their last run-in with a team from the desert nation came in 1997 when they encountered USM Alger over two legs in what was a disappointing campaign where they exited in the group stage.

The current crop of Bucs players will however not be too unfamiliar with Algerian opposition as a few of the long-serving squad members were present in CAF Confederation Cup fixtures against ES Setif and JS Saoura, all played between 2020 and 2021.

Nevertheless, the team coached by the vastly experienced Abdelkader Amrani boasts a unique challenge as they are well-versed in the skills required to navigate this crucial stage of the competition. They have advanced into the knockout stages in three of their last four forays into the groups and will be looking to move past their recent disappointment in the tournament where they fell short of the quarterfinals.

For Belouizdad, hosting the Soweto Giants presents a welcome break from domestic competition following a tough start to the season as they find themselves way short of their usual territory in 10th place on the Algerian Ligue 1 table. This is after managing only a couple of victories in 10 attempts. They are expected to put on a determined display on home turf against an in-form Buccaneers side searching for a vital win to kick off their campaign.

Pirates arrived in Algeria this afternoon ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, which gets underway at 21:00 (South African Standard Time) on Tuesday.