Orlando Pirates may have landed in a tough CAF Champions League group that has 12-time champions Al Ahly but the statistics suggest the Buccaneers have a reason to be optimistic.
Pirates are in Group C that also includes defending champions Al Ahly from Egypt, home to Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau, Khanyisa Mayo’s Tunisian club CR Belouizdad and Stade d’Abidjan from the Ivory Coast.
Of their three opponents, Al Ahly, who have won the last two titles to take their tally to an unassailable 12 crowns, are the tough team that they will need to overcome to get a chance of advancing from the group.
However, Pirates will perhaps be encouraged by their good record against the Egyptian giants since in their last six meetings, they have only tasted defeat once.
Should Al Ahly worry about Orlando Pirates instead?
It is perhaps Al Ahly that should be wary of Pirates given the Buccaneers have won three and forced two draws in the last six meetings between the two sides.
Al Ahly and Pirates’ last meeting took place in 2015 when the South African giants won both home and away in a CAF Confederation Cup tie.
Pirates claimed a 1-0 home win in September that year before a thrilling seven-goal encounter saw the Sea Robbers win 4-3 in the return leg in Cairo.
That was after the two sides had cashed four times in 2013 when Pirates won one as Al Ahly claimed another while two matches ended in draws.
Soweto giants will have home advantage in the first leg
The Soweto giants claimed a 1-0 win in August that year before a goalless draw in the return leg in September and they would meet again in November when the first leg ended 1-1 in South Africa before Al Ahly claimed a 2-0 victory in the second leg.
Pirates will be hoping for a similar outcome in their group matches to be among the two teams that sail through to the next round.
Jose Riveiro’s men will host the first leg on December 6 before the return match takes place on January 25, 2025.