Riveiro addresses potential Sundowns CAFCL quarterfinal clash
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has addressed the possibility of facing SA rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals.
With both teams still in contention, the potential all-South African clash is a hot topic, and Riveiro has shared his thoughts on the prospect.
The much-anticipated CAF Champions League draw will take place on Thursday, February 20, in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. The first legs of the quarterfinals are scheduled for April 1-2 and April 8-9. The dates for the return legs will be communicated in due course.
Pirates qualified for the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013 when they lost in the final to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. This season, the Sea Robbers topped Group C, finishing ahead of Al Ahly with 14 points from four victories and two draws. As a result, they will be placed in the seeded pot.
Last season’s semifinalists, Sundowns, finished second in Group B with nine points, having achieved two victories, three draws, and one defeat. In 2024, Sundowns were eliminated by Tunisian side Esperance, who were then coached by their current head coach, Miguel Cardoso.
Other potential opponents that Pirates might face in the quarterfinals include the Egyptian side Pyramids FC, Algerian giants MC Alger, and Al Hilal from Sudan.
JOSE RIVEIRO WELCOMES MAMELODI SUNDOWNS MATCHUP BUT WANTS IT LATER
Following Sundowns’ 4-1 thrashing of Pirates last week at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the Betway Premiership, Riveiro was asked if a potential Champions League quarterfinal clash with the South African champions would be disastrous.
Riveiro answered by stating that facing a familiar team like Sundowns could be advantageous. However, he expressed a preference for such a game to take place later in the competition rather than in the quarterfinals.
“It’s one of the three [opponents] that we can get from that draw; if it’s Sundowns, it’s good that we don’t have to travel so far. So it can be good for planning for both teams, we know each other very well, we’re going to play again on the 15th [March] as well,” said Riveiro.
“For me to comment on possibilities in the draw, we have our conversations amongst ourselves, the technical staff, including the last camp, on which one could be better basically for the way we play football more than anything else.
“If it’s Sundowns, I think it’s going to be a big, big clash for the country. It’s going to attract a lot of attention one more time. But hopefully, it’s not this time; hopefully, it’s a little bit later in the competition. It could actually be better for all of us if that game happens at the end.”
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