Ouaddou reveals his only worry for AFCON-bound Orlando Pirates players

Soweto giants Orlando Pirates have been in an excelelnt form domestically in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Buccaneers have won MTN8 and most recently the Carling Knockout where they beat Marumo Gallants by a solitary goal. They then managed to secure Carling Black Label Cup after beating All Stars Select in their last game of the year.

In the Premier Soccer League, the Sea Robbers have colelcted 28 points from 12 games which has put them top of the table, two more than the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns who have played a game more.

It explains why his nine key players – including Mbekezeli Mbokazi who has since made a move to Chicago Fire, made the Bafana Bafana’s AFCON squad. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is hopeful none of his stars will come back injured.

Ouaddou’s main worry for his AFCON-bound players

“I think you can be right. Sometimes, when you are in good momentum, and you have a long break, you can feel like you want to stop this dynamic, of course,” he said in his interview with MSW.

“But for us, with the staff, with the management of the club, we believe that if you manage to plan the training, the prioritisation for the next five months, you plan the things, I believe that you have less risk to have this sort of things happen.

“We have already started working on the preparation for January and, to be honest, we have a team that is capable of reaching the target.

“Of course, my only fear is the players from the national team. We hope they will all come back without any injuries,” Ouaddou concluded.

Bafana Bafana’s first game in AFCON will be on Monday against Angola, before facing Egypt and later on Zimbabwe.