With things wide open, there was all to play for as the two sides renewed rivalries in Soweto. Pirates were almost stunned during the opening exchanges when the visitors got a chance which was eventually wasted.

That happened to be a rare foray deep into Bucs territory for Les Yèyés, who spent a great deal of time inside their own half. In trying to capitalise on their dominance, Pirates had opportunities through Kabelo Dlamini as well as Relebohile Mofokeng with both players unable to land the decisive touch.

The breakthrough wasn’t too far off, and it came in the 22nd minute following some neat interplay that led them into the penalty area. This was where Mohau Nkota did well to eliminate goalkeeper Drissa Bamba from the equation, allowing Mofokeng an empty net to shoot into.

Shortly after the goal, the shot-stopper did have some bright moments as he kept out shots from Nkota and Tshegofatso Mabasa. His heroics kept the Bucs lead to a minimum at the break, giving his side a chance to launch a second-half comeback.

That was not to be as the hosts doubled their lead just five minutes after the restart. The second goal was courtesy of Maswanganyi, who showed excellent skill in breaking free of his marker with a clever turn before expertly placing the ball beyond Bamba’s reach.

Les Yéyés did manage the odd surge into the home side’s half of the field, but Sipho Chaine’s goal remained largely untouched. Pirates meanwhile continued to knock at the other end with Dlamini and Maswanganyi each coming close to providing the third.

An intercept on the halfway line initiated a superb solo effort from Deon Hotto, made his way towards the Abidjan penalty area before finishing past Bamba to make it 3-0 with four minutes remaining before the final whistle. That left the Ivorians with an uphill climb as the home side refused to relent despite a comfortable lead.

All that was required for the Buccaneers was to manage the remainder of the contest, which they did without much of a fuss to claim a vital win which places them a point ahead of Al Ahly and two adrift from CR Belouizdad with two group games left for each team to play,

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Van Rooyen (Monyane 86’), Hotto, Makhaula, Dlamini (Rasebotja 86’), Nkota (Mako 73’), Maswanganyi (Tshobeni 79’), Mofokeng, Mabasa (Radiopane 79’).

For the Buccaneers, the equation is straightforward: a victory will leave them just a point away from qualifying for the knockout stages. Meanwhile, the visitors, currently rooted at the bottom of the group with only one point from three games, face elimination unless they secure all three points.

So it’s safe to say Stade d’Abidjan won’t be in Johannesburg for a holiday—they’re here to fight.
José Riveiro’s men must prepare for a clash with a side eager to upset the balance, fully aware of the significance of this encounter. And why wouldn’t they?

After all, it was against the Buccaneers that Stade d’Abidjan earned their first group-stage point; a 1-all draw. That result proved the Ivorian outfit is far more than a group-stage filler.

Current Form (Last Five Matches)
W-D-D-W–W

Les Yéyés are riding an impressive unbeaten streak, having avoided defeat in their last five matches across all competitions. Their 1-1 draw with Pirates seems to have ignited a purple patch of form of sorts, as they’ve gone on to score 13 goals in those matches, averaging 2.6 goals per game.

This fine run of results has propelled Alexandre Lafitte’s team up the domestic league standings, where they now sit in second place, trailing leaders AFAD only on goal difference—a gap narrowed by a commanding 3-1 win over AFAD last month.

Key Players
In the previous analysis by Orlandopiratesfc.com, attention centred on midfield maestros Aka and Niampe, who control the tempo for Stade d’Abidjan. However, in this must-win clash, the attacking players will hold the key. Keep an eye on these players:

1. Roger Assalé
2. Youssouf Koné
3. Kassoum Koné

Each has demonstrated the ability to exploit defensive lapses, and they’ll be eager to test the Buccaneers’ backline.

Threats and Weaknesses
As with any football team, Stade d’Abidjan come into this game carrying both strengths and vulnerabilities.

Main Threats
• Goalscoring Ability: Les Yéyés are prolific, having scored in their last six matches. What makes them particularly dangerous is the distribution of goals across the squad, making it difficult to single out one player for defensive focus.

• Set Pieces: Pirates know this threat all too well, having conceded a set-piece goal in the reverse fixture. Stade d’Abidjan employ clever routines involving blockers, allowing a player to peel off and target the far post—whether to head back across goal or, as Pirates experienced, score directly.

Main Weakness

• Defensive Fragility: While Stade d’Abidjan have no trouble finding the net, they struggle to keep their opponents out. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine competitive matches, conceding 15 goals (an average of 1.6 goals per game). In many of their victories, they’ve had to come from behind, highlighting defensive lapses early in games.

Conclusion

Saturday’s match will be anything but a walk in the park for the Buccaneers. Stade d’Abidjan are better than their position on the table suggests, and their recent form proves they are no pushovers.
For Pirates to secure the crucial three points, they’ll need to be at their best, both tactically and mentally, to overcome this hard-running and relentless Ivorian side.

Kickoff: 18:00 (SA Time)

Crowned champions in the same city back in 1995, the Soweto Giants returned to the historic battleground as one of two teams still unbeaten in their group. They were looking to push their tally to seven points on the halfway mark of the group stage, with top spot beckoning. Missed opportunities however plagued their efforts, particularly in the first half where they were the more dominant side.

Makhehleni Makhaula and Relebohile Mofokeng were both afforded chances at goal inside the opening 15 minutes. However, both players placed their shots off target as they looked to push ahead. These were the first of many attempts at the goal manned by Drissa Bamba who was mostly unthreatened despite being by far the busier of the two men between the sticks.

The Ivorian shot-stopper was made to strain in keeping out a shot from Mohau Nkota 30 minutes in when he dived low to his left after the Bucs forward was unselfishly played in by Evidence Makgopa. He could have been called upon late in the first half, but the home side’s defence managed to scramble to deal with the danger posed by a Bucs set piece they threatened deep inside the penalty area.

Following some close calls, Pirates were afforded a golden opportunity to make the most of their ascendancy as Mofokeng was brought down inside the box. This resulted in a penalty, taken by Makgopa who effortlessly sent Bamba the wrong way with seconds remaining before the break.

The pace increased notably in the second half as Les Yéyés looked to draw level. It would only take them nine minutes to find the equaliser which was provided by defender Ousmane Méité who fired in from close range.

Pirates had the opportunity to restore their lead in the 58th minute when Makgopa was released out on the left flank. The chance was however spurned as Bamba came out on top in a one-on-one situation.

Spurred on by the equaliser, Abidjan looked a different side for much of the second half and threatened to steal a late winner. Ben Guel Kouyate had a couple of close calls on either side of a wayward header at the other end from Bucs replacement striker Tshegofatso Mabasa.

A late free kick for the visitors could have put them back in front with the final whistle fast approaching. Substitute midfielder Kabelo Dlamini however directed his effort over the crossbar.

This was followed by a tense finish as the hosts looked to complete their comeback, but the Buccaneers managed to survive a shaky period towards the end to maintain a stalemate they would have wished to convert into a crucial victory on the road.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen, Mako (Dlamini 64’), Makhaula (Kimvuidi 87’), Mbatha (Rasebotja 73’), Nkota (Gilberto 64’), Mofokeng, Hotto, Makgopa (Mabasa 64’).

A Tale of Similarities

Like Orlando Pirates, Stade d’Abidjan earned their spot in the Champions League as runners-up in their domestic league, finishing behind champions San-Pedro. But the similarities don’t end there.Though not as recognised as their neighbors and rivals, ASEC Mimosas, Stade d’Abidjan, affectionately known as Les Yèyès, boast a rich history.

Formed in 1938 under the name ASFIF Abidjan, they share a similar age group to the Buccaneers. Their crowning achievement came in 1966 when they lifted the CAF Champions League. They returned to the continental showpiece in 1967 and 1970, but only went as far as the Quarterfinals on both occasions.

Current Campaign

Fast forward to the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign, and Stade d’Abidjan find themselves in a challenging position. They sit at the bottom of Group C after back-to-back losses against Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad respectively.

While their form may suggest an easier outing for the Buccaneers, Head Coach José Riveiro has warned his players about underestimating their opponents, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by the Ivorian side.

Recent Form: W – D – L – L – L

Stade d’Abidjan have endured a tough run, losing their last three competitive matches. They suffered a 4-2 defeat to Al Ahly in the Champions League, a 2-0 loss to Bouaké in Ligue 1, and most recently, a narrow 1-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad. Head Coach Alexandre Lafitte will approach Saturday’s match knowing anything less than a win could all but dash their chances of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition .

Tactical Overview
Different Tactical Styles

Having faced North African teams like Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad, Pirates can expect a shift in tactical dynamics when facing a West African side like Stade d’Abidjan. While North African football often emphasizes tactical discipline, set-piece proficiency, and structured play, West African teams are renowned for their intensity, individual flair, and physicality.

The region has produced globally celebrated talents like Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) to name a few.

Key Threats
One-on-One Dribblers

Positional play has dominated modern football, thanks to coaches like Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, who have revolutionized the game with their view on the game. Cruyff started it but Guardiola has gone on to perfect the concept that focuses on prioritizing space manipulation. However, in countries like Ivory Coast, the art of the one-on-one dribbler remains alive. Two Stade d’Abidjan players rank among the Top 5 dribblers in this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League:

1. Tayeb Meziani (MC Alger): 14 dribbles
2. Pacome Zouzoua (Young Africans): 14
3. Oscar Kabwit (TP Mazembe): 11
4. Sean-Jean Kore (Stade d’Abidjan): 9
5. Roger Assalé (Stade d’Abidjan): 8

For context, Orlando Pirates’ highest-ranking player in this metric is Relebohile Mofokeng with six. Additionally, Roger Assalé boasts a superior dribble success rate of 37.5% compared to Mofokeng’s 16.7%. At 31, Assalé brings valuable European experience, having played for clubs like Young Boys, Leganés, and Dijon.

Trigger Happy

While Kore’s dribbling success rate is modest (11%), his impact is felt in his shooting. The 26-year-old forward ranks second in shots taken (7) in the competition, trailing only Ibrahim Adel of Pyramids FC. By comparison, Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng have taken four shots each but have played only one match apiece.

The Conductor

Often overlooked, the pivot role is critical in controlling a team’s tempo. Stade d’Abidjan’s 32-year-old Essis Aka is their orchestrator, ranking among the Top Five carriers in the Champions League. The role of the pivot is one that doesn’t get much attention. Often the focus is on the attacking players .

The recent Ballon D’or that went to Rodri created a lot of debate. With many arguing that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jnr was robbed. However if there was a reason to motivate the justification for Rodri’s case. Take a look at his clubs record before his injury and post. Prior to his injury City went 74 games undefeated and post his injury- the rest his history.

Coming back to Essis Aka. The Ivorian’s have their own Conductor of sorts. He is the one who controls the tempo and rhythm of his side. In the Champions League so far the 32 year old ranks in the Top Five terms of Carries (excl defenders) with 82 carries over the two matches

1. Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns): 154
2. Marcelo Allende (Sundowns): 110
3. Lucas Ribeiro (Sundowns): 95
4. Marwan Attia (Al Ahly): 90
5. Essis Aka (Stade d’Abidjan): 82

Aka’s ability to dictate play will be pivotal for his teams side. Despite their position at the foot of Group C, Stade d’Abidjan remain a dangerous side, blending individual brilliance with collective resilience. For Orlando Pirates, focus and discipline will be key to securing maximum points and bolstering their ambitions in the competition.