Orlando Pirates

FOUR things Orlando Pirates MUST DO in the CAF final

No more talking. Orlando Pirates have 90 minutes to become CAF Confederation Cup champions. Here are four things they have to apply.

Orlando Pirates

We’re just hours away from it. Orlando Pirates are on the bring of CAF Confederation Cup glory. Standing in the way is RS Berkane from Morocco.

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Here are FOUR THINGS that could be the difference between winning and losing for Orlando Pirates.

FOUR THINGS ORLANDO PIRATES HAVE TO GET RIGHT

1. Don’t concede a goal

Keep it airtight at the back. Avoid corners, free kicks, and crosses. A sure-fire certainty is that Orlando Pirates have the enterprise, improvisation, and speed to create opportunities. Goal chances WILL come, all that Bucs need is to keep the ball far away from goalkeeper Richard Ofori’s net.

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2. Concentration

Every team is always looking for that early goal but it doesn’t always come. If the perfect start fails, Orlando Pirates need to keep highly concentrated on staying in the game and being patient for that first goal.

3. Manage mind games

This is the continent, we know that mind games are part of it all. Orlando Pirates players have to keep cool heads against the bullying, swearing, and all sorts of unsporting behaviour from the opposition. North African teams are meanly competitive, they know no limits when it comes to manipulative behaviour to discomfort opposition or gain advantage.

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4. Play to own strengths

Berkane is a North African team from Morocco, this means Orlando Pirates should expect a rigidly organised structure, tactical discipline, and direct play such as crosses and set-piece threats.

However, Mandla Ncikazi’s side have different strengths: technical players, speed, and combination play. Playing with two number eights or 10s will be particularly important in trying to break down Berkane’s defence.

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The names of these Orlando Pirates players could be remembered forever. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BERKANE

  1. The club is nicknamed the Orange Boys
  2. Berkane have never won the Moroccan league title but became Morrocan Cup champions in 2017/18
  3. The team won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2019/2020
  4. The current team has six foreign players in their squad who are all African
  5. Berkane are currently in 7th place in the Moroccan League after seven wins in 22 games
  6. The Orange Boys are coached by the ‘Congolese Pitso.’ His name is Florent Ibenge
  7. Coach Ibenge’s accolades include a CAF Champions League silver medal with Congolese giants AS Vita in 2014
  8. Ibenge also claimed second prize with Vita in the 2017/18 CAFCC final
  9. Ibenge claimed third place as the national team coach of Congo at AFCON 2015
  10. The coach also took the DRC to the AFCON 2017 quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Friday night’s game will kick off at 21:00 from the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.

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