Riveiro opens up on facing Al Ahly after quarterfinal qualification
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has opened up on facing Al Ahly after securing a spot in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals.
The Soweto giants secured their spot in the last eight of the competition after claiming a 2-1 win over CR Belouizdad at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha were on target for the home side. Abdelraouf Benguit scored the visitors’ consolation goal.
The win took Pirates to the top of the Group C standings, a point ahead of second-placed Al Ahly. They have 11 points while the Egyptians sit on 10 points.
Pirates and Al Ahly are set to clash on Saturday 18 January in Cairo in their final group match.
JOSE RIVEIRO’S SENTIMENTS AFTER SEALING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS QUALIFICATION
Simply put, this will be a battle for the top spot in the group. And coach, Riveiro says ending as Group C leaders will be a bonus as it was not their primary objective.
“We have any oppurtunity to go there and compete and win one more time, in a magnificent scenario, with an oppurtunity of leading the group in the end.
“So there is a lot of components to keep our motivation very high and not take the last game of the group lightly.
“Like I said, to be competitive with our team in this competition, we need our best performance all the time.
“There is no other way that you can win games and if we are not 100% in Cairo, it won’t be a good day for us.
“We can’t afford to go there in our 98% or 97%, because this is a very good team when playing at home.
“Why not finish the group stage in the leading? It was never the main objective, the objective was to be in the next round.
“The next plan is always to win and when we have the chance, we have to make it happen.”
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