Zamalek v Orlando Pirates | Match Preview CAF Confederation Cup

Zamalek and Pirates have 12 points each in Group B with the Egyptians ahead on head-to-head records having come from behind to triumph 2-1 in South Africa a couple of months ago.

So, only a win will do if Pirates are to achieve the goal of coach and former national team midfielder Eric Tinkler and finish as group winners.

Tinkler, an ‘enforcer’ in the South Africa 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, wants to play away first in the semi-finals.

“We are unbeaten away in five Confederation Cup matches this season and playing the first leg of a semi-final away would give us a psychological advantage over whoever we meet,” he explained.

To succeed in Cairo, Pirates must shackle Zamalek sharpshooter Bassem Morsy, whose hat-trick last weekend triggered a 5-1 Cup of Nations qualifying victory for Egypt in Chad.

Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler is expecting a tough encounter away to Zamalek in the last Group B game of the African Confederation Cup but he is confident his side can win in Cairo and qualify as the group leaders.

 

“Facing Zamalek is always going to be a difficult challenge but this is who we are, we thrive under difficult conditions,” Tinkler told TV Reporters on Wednesday.

[socialpoll id=”2294477″] “We have corrected our mistakes from when we played them in the first leg, it was a difficult but necessary lesson from which we have since learnt the importance of playing for the result.

“It is vitally important that we get a win against Zamalek and finish top of the group because we want to secure a home second leg semifinal. It is a tough ask but it’s definitely doable, we have gone there (Egypt, Cairo) in the past and collected a positive result,” the 45-year-old added.

The match will be held at Petro Sport stadium in Cairo on Sunday.