Orlando Pirates are heading to Egypt with a winning mentality, aiming to secure the top spot in Group C of the CAF Champions League when they face Al Ahly at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday (18:00),” according to defender Nkosinathi Sibisi.

The Soweto Giants currently lead the group with 11 points from five matches, one ahead of the defending champions. Both teams have already qualified for the knockout stages, with Khanyisa’s CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Stade d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast) eliminated from the competition.

With qualification secured, the focus now shifts to group supremacy. Finishing top grants the advantage of playing the second leg of the knockout stages at home.

“The team is highly motivated when we go into a game against Al Ahly,” he told orlandopiratesfc.com.  

“We want to finish the group unbeaten and we’d like to finish at the top of our group. I think that’s our main objective. We’re aiming to get a positive result here in Cairo.” 

As one of South Africa’s two representatives in the tournament alongside Mamelodi Sundowns, the Buccaneers carry the weight of national pride. Sibisi, acknowledging their current unbeaten record in the group, believes a positive result against the defending champions (who were pre-tournament favorites) would hold immense significance.

“Our main concern is getting a positive result here and hopefully, it will be good enough to finish the group unbeaten,” he said. “That’s our focus and we want to represent our country and make our country proud.”