Abdeslam Ouaddou Cautions Orlando Pirates Players Despite First-Leg Advantage Over African Stars

• Orlando Pirates secured a narrow first-leg victory over Namibian champions African Stars in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round
• Tshepang Moremi scored the only goal of the match at the Botswana National Stadium, giving the Buccaneers a one-goal advantage
• Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou cautioned his squad ahead of the second leg, urging the same focus and preparation shown in the opening fixture

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged his players not to let their guard down following a narrow 1-0 first-leg victory over Namibian champions African Stars in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round.

Tshepang Moremi netted the decisive goal in the second half at the Botswana National Stadium on Saturday, handing the Soweto giants a slender lead ahead of the return fixture. Pirates will host African Stars at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, with a place in the group stages on the line.

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Ouaddou Stresses the Tie Is Far From Over

Despite holding the advantage, Ouaddou was clear that the contest is not yet won. He stressed that qualification remains a top priority for the club, the technical staff and the players, and that the squad must approach the second leg with the same intensity and preparation they delivered in the first.

Reflecting on the opening match, the Pirates mentor noted that his technical team had anticipated a physically demanding encounter against the Namibian side.

He believed that maintaining discipline and physical intensity throughout the game would be key, particularly as the contest wore on into the second half, and that this approach could ultimately give his players an edge.

Ouaddou: 'We Don't Care About the Weather'

Ouaddou also spoke about the challenging conditions in Botswana, where temperatures reportedly reached between 35 and 36 degrees Celsius during the first leg. He revealed that the club's analysis department had flagged the expected heat well ahead of the trip, giving the technical team time to prepare the players mentally.

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The Pirates coach was firm in his view that professional footballers must be capable of adapting to different environments when competing at continental level. He added that navigating difficult conditions forms part of a player's development and is simply a reality of football at this stage of competition.

With a one-goal cushion in hand, Pirates will look to use home support to their advantage on Friday and secure their place in the CAF Champions League group stages. Ouaddou's measured tone, however, signals that he will not allow his squad to treat the tie as a formality, with African Stars still very much capable of turning the tie around.

Source: Briefly News