Match Date: 2 Nov 2013 Time: 20:3 (CLT)
Champions Al Ahly take on Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg in the first leg of the African Champions League final on Saturday November 2nd 2013.
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates are eager to hijack the trophy they won just once in 1995 as they make their second appearance in Africa’s premier club competition.
Egyptian giants Ahly are aware what it means to come face to face with the hungry Pirates, having suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the Red Sea resort of El-Gouna for their heaviest-ever home loss in the Champions League group stage.
“We know well that Orlando Pirates are a strong team, and their progress at the expense of Esperance proves that,” said Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef.
“But our pedigree and history speaks volumes about our capabilities. We will not accept anything less than retaining the Champions League title,” added the rookie tactician, who is credited with keeping the team better than par with relatively more stable opponents against the backdrop of the ongoing domestic football stoppage in Egypt.
Ahly have never won a Champions League game on South African soil, drawing three times and losing twice in five games.
The three stalemates included a valuable one when Ahly held Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in Pretoria in the 2001 final before crushing them 3-0 in Cairo to win the competition and end a 14-year drought.
“I still believe they [Ahly] are favourites,” Pirates coach Roger De Sa told South African website Super Sport.
“Because of the experience they’ve got and the pedigree they’ve got as well, and also playing at home in the second game, I think that probably gives them the edge as well.
“I believe keeping a clean-sheet is important. When you’re at home, it’s important not to concede. But if you do, you have to get on with it and score even more goals. It’s important that we keep it tight. If we can go to Egypt with something in the bag, then we have a chance.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdMgkPNHZqQ[/youtube]
