adminORLANDO Stadium will host the first leg of the Caf Champions League final tonight, with Orlando Pirates hoping to take advantage of their home conditions before facing a tricky trip to Al Ahly’s Air Defence stadium in Cairo. Pirates overcame the odds in defeating Esperance de Tunis in order to garner a spot in the final, winning 1-1 on aggregate due to an away goal from Rooi Mahamutsa in Tunisia.
The Buccaneers did so without recognised first-choice central defenders Siyabonga Sangweni and Lucky Lekgwathi, Sangweni still unavailable due to injury, while Lekgwathi’s absence seems to have resulted from controversial comments made by the Pirates captain.
Patrick Phungwayo will also miss the final as he recovers from an Achilles tendon injury, with Ayanda Gcaba and Mahamutsa likely to renew their partnership in the centre of defence.
Pirates will hope for improved fortunes in front of goal in the Orlando Stadium, as the side has been held to three 0-0 draws at home during the tournament.
Al Ahly had to contend with a motivated Coton Sport in order to reach yet another final, narrowly defeating the club from Cameroon 7-6 in a penalty shootout.
The Egyptian giants will be relieved to name Sherif Ekramy in their squad, after the player sustained a thigh injury which could have resulted in him missing the first leg of the all-important final.
The star-studded outfit contains 11 Egyptian national players, who will be motivated to exorcise the demons of a 6-1 thrashing by Ghana in a recent World Cup qualifier. The final promises to be an enthralling encounter between the kings of the Caf Champions League and a side which is desperate to earn their second star. -Goal.com.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter