Abdeslam Ouaddou opens up about surprise decision on Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa after Orlando Pirates reel out of the CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates were booted out of the CAF Champions League by FC Sainr-Eloi Lupopo via a penalty shootout at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

After a valiant fightback, which saw the Buccaneers nullify the 3-0 loss they suffered in the first leg of this second preliminary round, it ultimately did not count for Abdeslam Ouaddou's men in the end.

The Moroccan coach surprisingly excluded Thalente Mbatha and forward Evidence Makgopa from his matchday squad, and he defends his decision.

“Regarding the profile of the opponent and game, we knew this team will come and adapt with a very low block, so we wanted to try this false nine, someone who is able to keep the ball up front in small spaces and at the same time to push the defence to be dragged out of position,” Ouaddou said as per iDiski Times.
“So it was a tactical choice [to not have Makgopa] and at the same time, we’re playing many competitions, as you said, in terms of rotation, in a few days we need a competitive team as well.”

For a team that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, bowing out in the preliminaries this term could put the coach under pressure.

That might make Pirates desperate to win the Premier Soccer League title, Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup to atone for the continental setback.

However, Ouaddou might take comfort in that his predecessor, Jose Riveiro, also led the Buccaneers to a Champions League exit in his first season to play in Africa.

The Buccaneers are now back to fully focus on domestic duties for the rest of the season, and that might take the pressure off them in trying to balance between continental football and responsibilities at home.

They host Magesi FC in a Carling Knockout quarter-final match at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.