Pirates eye fourth continental final

Orlando Pirates will be looking to reach their fourth continental final when they host Al Ahli Tripoli in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, second-leg match at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

MATCH BACKGROUND

The Buccaneers are in complete control of this tie having claimed a 2-0 win over their Libyan opposition in the first-leg encounter in Benghazi on May 8 as the South African side produced a strong first half performance.

Innocent Maela opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match which was played at the Benina Martyrs Stadium where Pirates had lost 3-2 to Al Ahli's local rivals, Al Ittihad in a Group B encounter on February 20.

The 1995 African champions doubled their lead through Goodman Mosele a minute before the half-hour mark and the goal sealed the visitors' second successive victory in Africa's secondary club tournament.

The defeat ended Al Ahli's seven-match unbeaten run in Confederation Cup, but they will be banking on their good away record in the competition as coach Fathi Al-Jabal's side is undefeated in their last three games on the road.

Nicknamed the Leaders, Al Ahli will now be hoping to overturn the deficit and reach their first continental final since 1994 when they qualified for the CAF African Cup Winners Cup final.

However, Pirates, who won the 1996 CAF Super Cup, are no pushovers at home as they are enjoying a 14-match unbeaten run at their iconic home ground, Orlando Stadium.

The Buccaneers have to avoid a defeat against the Leaders in order to reach their fourth continental final having taken part in the 1995 CAF Champions League, 2013 Champions League and 2015 Confederation Cup finals.

The winner on aggregate between the two sides will take on either RS Berkane of Morocco or DR Congolese giants TP Mazembe in the final at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria on May 20.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Pirates and Al Ahli will meet for the second time in a competitive match as the first-leg clash was their first-ever meeting.

The last time Bucs hosted a Libyan club they were held to a 0-0 draw by Al Ittihad in a Group B encounter on April 3.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ORLANDO PIRATES - DEON HOTTO

The Namibia international has been Pirates' best attacker this season having caught the eye with his ability to score and create goals for the Soweto giants.

A powerful winger blessed with an educated left foot, Hotto has scored seven goals and provided eight assists including five in the Confederation Cup.

The former Bidvest Wits star's delivery from set-pieces could be key to another Bucs win over Al Ahli.

AL AHLI - MOHAMMED EL FAKIH

The Moroccan attacking midfielder has been influential for Al Ahli in the current campaign and he mainly operates in the pocket behind the forwards.

El Fakih can double-up as a striker when called upon having hit the back of the net twice to inspire the Leaders to a 3-2 away win over Zambia's Zanaco in a Group A clash on March 13.

The Leaders will pin their hopes of reaching the final on El Fakih who has an eye for goals.

WHAT THEY SAID

"The game is not over, this is just half-time. We are only leading because they can go to South Africa and do the same to us," Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi said.

"We will treat the game very seriously because we understand the dynamics of African football, an away goal is very important.

"We will afford them the respect they deserve in the second leg but not to the extent that it alters the way we play and how much we want to impose ourselves on the game," he added.

"We will just prepare for a good team."