Pirates Starting XI vs Ah Ahli Announced

Orlando Pirates have named their starting XI for their CAF Confederations Cup semi-final first leg at Al Ahli Tripoli.

The Buccaneers are the only South African team left in CAF competitions and are one step away from reaching their first continental final since 2015.

Pirates eliminated Tanzanian giants Simba SC on penalties in the previous round, while Al Ahli Tripoli beat their bitter rival Al Ittihad, who had finished in second place in Pirates’ group, 1-0 on aggregate.

“We’re playing against a good team, when you come to the semi-finals you know you’re facing a good team. As a team, we know what we want, we came here for a good result for the team to take home,” captain Happy Jele said ahead of the game.

“We’ve been preparing very well all week, we’ve done our analysis for Ahli and we’re very prepared for anything they come with, the style of play, we are ready for it – but we have to play our game the way we prepared it.

“We can’t lose our identity in this game, this is what we want and how we want to represent our country. We have artificial turf in our country to prepare for this.”

The home side have only lost one of their last 19 games in all competitions and are unbeaten at home since August 2021.

They’ve won all of their home matches in the Confederations Cup this year, scoring six times and conceding just one.

Pirates, meanwhile, have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions, scoring just two goals over this run.

However, the Sea Robbers are the top goalscorer in the Confederations Cup this campaign, having netted 16 times in their eight games.

Here is how they line up:

Al Ahli: Nashnosh, Bousnina, Alturbi, Matouq, Almounir, Bader, Jaddour, Elfakih, Abuzraiq, Altobal, Salto.

Subs: Altrki, Akasha, Rizq, Emhemmed, Abuargoub, Altarhoni, Talha, Altaher, Almahdi.

Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Nyauza, Maela, Shandu, Mosele, Mabaso, Motshwari, Lorch, Hotto, Peprah.

Subs: Mpontshane, Sam, Hlatshwayo, Ndlovu, Makaringe, Makhubela, Dlamini, Dzvukamanja, Lepasa

Check out the FREE ONLINE VERSION of this week’s iDiski Times newspaper, with interviews from Junior Khanye, Roger de Sa and Mamelodi Sundowns scout Tera Maliwa. In addition, we have transfer updates on Samir Nurkovic and Miguel Timm, as well as insights on AmaZulu’s coaching shortlist.