Orlando Pirates Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou Threatens to Quit After CAF Champions League Win
- Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou voiced serious displeasure with his players' attitude after their CAF Champions League victory over La Cure Waves
- Ouaddou warned that showboating in the second half cost the team several goals and directly threatened his future at the club
- Pirates will face African Stars of Namibia in the second preliminary round after the Namibian side's dramatic comeback against Mangasport
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Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou issued a blunt ultimatum to his squad after Friday night's 3-1 win over La Cure Waves, threatening to resign if players continue prioritising showboating over scoring goals.
The result completed a 3-1 aggregate victory and confirmed Pirates' place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. However, the manner of the second half left Ouaddou visibly frustrated despite the comfortable scoreline.
**Ouaddou Praises Response but Criticises Attitude**
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Pirates conceded an early goal, which the coach described as an unexpected setback. The team responded well, scoring shortly afterwards and eventually pulling clear, but Ouaddou felt the performance deteriorated significantly after the break.
"We dropped in the second half, I was not happy. Yes, we had more control, I think we could have scored three or four more goals," he said. "I repeat again, the rhythm dropped when we stopped being serious and started showboating."
Ouaddou praised the team's first-half application, noting how they implemented specific training patterns and managed the game's tempo effectively. He was particularly encouraged by their character after falling behind, but the second-half display undid much of that goodwill.
**'I Will Pack My Luggage'**
The Moroccan-born coach made clear that showboating runs counter to everything he believes in as a manager, and he did not hold back in expressing the consequences should it continue.
"My job as a coach is to improve players, is for them to give the best, to win games with a winning mentality. The moment that I will accept showboating, I will leave the results, I will leave everything, and I will pack my luggage and I will stop training," Ouaddou said.
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He added that his entire focus remains on scoring goals and progressing deep into the competition. "I want goals, goals, goals — that's what I want. If my players are satisfied with three goals, we cannot go far."
Ouaddou went further, stating that if players wished to continue showboating, they should do so without him at the helm: "If they want continue to do this, please without me. I will not be the coach."
**Pirates to Face African Stars**
Pirates will next meet African Stars of Namibia, who produced a remarkable turnaround against Gabonese side Mangasport. Having lost the first leg 3-1, African Stars won 2-0 at home to advance on the away-goal rule.
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Source: Briefly News
