Orlando Pirates will look to seal top spot in Group C of the Caf Champions League when they face hosts Al Ahly at the Cairo International Stadium on the evening of Saturday 18 January 2025. Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.
The Buccaneers and the Red Eagles have both secured progression into the quarterfinals of the competition, but this final group stage clash will decide which club wins the group, and is therefore seeded for the next round.
The South African visitors hold a one-point advantage over the Egyptian heavyweights, having claimed a clutch 2-1 home win over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad last weekend to guarantee a top-two finish.
Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was delighted with his side sealing progression early, but is now turning his attention to the challenge of defending top spot from the competition’s reigning kings.
“The next plan is always to win and when we have the chance, we have to make it happen,” said the Spanish tactician.
✈️ The journey continues 🏴☠️
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) January 16, 2025
🏆 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
🛫 @ortambo_int 🇿🇦
🛬 @AirportCairo 🇪🇬
🎯 @AlAhly
🗓️ 18 January 2025
⚫️⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/yJKyeNiNI6
Al Ahly, meanwhile, claimed a come-from-behind 3-1 triumph in Ivory Coast against Stade d’Abidjan last weekend, in which midfielder Emam Ashour scored a second-half hat-trick to put them into the next phase.
The Red Eagles will be without South African forward Percy Tau, who has completed a move to Qatar SC this week.
“The absence of Percy and Kahraba is not a decisive factor, especially since they have not participated regularly recently,” said Ahly coach Marcel Koller.
In head-to-head stats, Al Ahly and Pirates have met in seven Caf club matches dating back to 2013. The Buccaneers have claimed three wins compared to one for the Red Eagles, while three games have been drawn.
One of those stalemates was a 0-0 draw in Soweto in early December 2024 as part of this group stage campaign.