Jose Riveiro, the coach of Orlando Pirates, has shared reflections from their match against the seasoned CAF Champions League squad, Al Ahly.

On Saturday, the Red Devils faced off against the Pirates at Orlando Stadium during matchday two of the CAF Champions League, resulting in a 0-0 draw.

The previous matchup between these teams took place in 2015 during the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals, where the Buccaneers emerged victorious with a 4-3 away win.

At present, both teams have accumulated four points, differentiated only by goal difference; Al Ahly sits at the top while Pirates are in second.

Riveiro conveyed his contentment with his team’s display, emphasizing the valuable experience gained from competing against an accomplished team like Al Ahly in the Champions League.

“Our primary lesson is that with heightened concentration, ambition, and determination, we can compete effectively against any rival,” Riveiro stated.

“We entered this match with limited experience while playing against a team rich in tournament expertise. We managed to control significant portions of the game and exhibited dominance at times.

“The performance level of the Pirates players, along with the support from our fans, is remarkable. In Orlando, with our supporters behind us, we transform into a formidable opponent.”

Pirates are set to travel to Ivory Coast this Saturday for their third group stage match against Stade d’Abidjan.

The Spanish coach recognizes that this upcoming encounter will be challenging, but they aspire to secure maximum points.

“They possess strong tactical abilities, and playing away will certainly be difficult,” Riveiro acknowledged.

“Nonetheless, I remain hopeful and view this match as another chance for us to contend for three points. Obtaining those points would be incredible, but we are aware that hard work is crucial to achieve it, just as we demonstrated in Algeria and against Al Ahly.”

The Ivorian team is currently at the bottom of the group, having yet to earn a point after losing both of their initial matches to Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad.