Abdeslam Ouaddou Explains Why He’s Not Worried Despite Orlando Pirates’ Slip Up vs Sekhukhune

• Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has shared his thoughts on the Sea Robbers' draw against Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership
• The French-born Moroccan coach explained why he's not worried about his team dropping points against Babina Noko in their first match of 2026
• The former Marumo Gallants mentor also commented on Pirates players' performance in the match, and what they lacked in the game

Orlando Pirates have started the second half of the season in the Betway Premiership on a bad note after dropping points against Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

The Sea Robbers were favourites to win going into the game due to their form before the league was paused because of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. They won the MTN8 title and the Carling Knockout Cup in the first half of the season, and are looking forward to adding the Nedbank Cup and the Betway Premiership trophies in the second part of this campaign.

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The draw against Babina Noko sent a panic message to Orlando Pirates on social media, with Mamelodi Sundowns reclaiming the top spot earlier this week.

Ouaddou is not worried about Pirates' draw

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insisted he has no concerns about dropped points, expressing satisfaction with his team’s overall display following the goalless draw against Sekhukhune United.

The stalemate ensured Pirates remain in second place on the table, level on points with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns while still holding a game in hand over the defending champions.

Sekhukhune United, meanwhile, delivered a compact, well-drilled and disciplined defensive performance that disrupted Pirates’ rhythm in sweltering conditions, although Babina Noko were unable to capitalise on their resilience by claiming a win that would have moved them within a point of their opponents.

Ouaddou hails Pirates players despite points drop

Ouaddou praised his players’ commitment and execution despite the lack of a decisive finish. He noted that the team maintained high intensity and created several opportunities, but the final touch was missing on the day. According to the coach, there was little he could fault in terms of their technical and tactical application, as the players gave everything throughout the contest.

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He also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, conceding that while Pirates felt they had done enough to secure victory, Sekhukhune deserved recognition for their organisation and strong collective spirit.

Looking ahead, Ouaddou reiterated that he remains confident in his side’s trajectory. He stressed that performances of this nature will continue to yield positive results, particularly given the challenges that often come with the first match after a break. While conceding that the outcome was frustrating, he maintained that Pirates pushed themselves to the limit and that, on this occasion, fortune simply was not on their side.

Pirates hit with major setback

Briefly News also reported that Orlando Pirates were hit with a major setback ahead of their first Betway Premiership fixture in 2026.

The Soweto-based club will miss one of their key players when they come up against Sekhukhune United in the league.

Source: Briefly News