Pirates End Top Of CAFCC Group

Orlando Pirates are through to the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals as group winners after their goalless draw against Libya’s Al Ittihad at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.

With JS Saoura from Algeria winning their game against Royal Leopard 2-0 at Mbombela Stadium, Al Ittihad needed to not lose join Pirates in the quarter-finals, which they achieved, and the finish second in the group.

Pirates top Group B with 13 points, Al Itihad are second on 11, while Saoura moved to 10 points. eSwatini’s Leopard finished bottom with no points in six games.

Orlando Pirates 0-0 Al Ittihad

Kwame Peprah had a half-chance for the home team in the third minute, but his header was always going over the goal. Bandile Shandu had a great chance in the ninth minute, but his final effort lacked power.

Much of the first half saw a midfield battle between the two sides, with Ittihad knowing they only need a draw to join Pirates in the next round, though Kabelo Dlamini went narrowly wide from a free kick in the 36th minute.

When the half-time whistle blew, the scoreline remained goalless.

Al Ittihad captain Mohamed Zabiaa had a rare chance for the visitors in the 48th minute, but his header went wide of goal.

The Libyans had come to fight for a draw, knowing that result would be enough for them to qualify, and they defended solidly as Pirates dominated the possession, but weren’t creating clear-cut chances, this being made more difficult by the rain and conditions in the second half.

With few opportunities in the final third, Dlamini tried from range but shot wide and high in the 73rd minute.

The Libyans managed the second half, with time-wasting tactics, and the tempo dropped for the final stages of the game.

And at the end of the ninety minutes, it ended goalless, and both teams advance to the quarter-finals.

The draw for the last eight is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.