Orlando Pirates will welcome Egyptian giants CS Zamalek in a CAF Champions League group stage match on Saturday evening at the Orlando Stadium, kickoff @ 20H00 CAT.
The Buccaneers lead the group A with four points while their opponents lie third with only a point. A win for the home side will dent chances of five times champions Zamalek qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Orlando Pirates will have to do without the services of midfielder Thandanani Ntshumayelo and Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma, both suffered injuries in the last match against Supersport United in the MTN8 quarter-final last Sunday.
Orlando Pirates striker Lennox Bacela, who is expected to make a start up-front on Saturday, says Zamalek will be tougher than Al Ahly after Orlando Pirates beat them 3-1 away from home in their last group stage encounter.
“This is going to be a tougher match than the one against Al Ahly, we expect Zamalek to fight like wounded tigers as they are still chasing their first win in the group stages.”
CS Zamalek arrived in South Africa on Wednesday with coach Helmy Toulan travelling with the group of nineteen players that exclude attacking midfielder Ahmed Gaafar who will serve a suspension after picking up a second yellow card when his team lost 1-0 away at AC Leopards in their last encounter.
Bacela concluded, “It is important to win here at home because it will be massive challenge when we travel to Egypt for the return leg.”
In the other group A fixture we will see current CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly visit second placed AC Leopards in another must win match for the Egyptians.
