ORLANDO PIRATES (South Africa) vs. AHLI (Egypt) Kickoff: 20.30 CLT CAF Champions League Final – First Leg Venue: Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg MATCH FACTS Orlando Pirates -When Pirates claimed the title in 1995, it was the only time during the past 33 years that neither Ahli nor Zamalek had featured in the competition. -When they lifted their one and only Champions League trophy, Pirates had to come back from a disappointing 2-2 first-leg home draw with ASEC Mimosas and win 1-0 away. -Throughout their historic campaign 18 years ago, Pirates managed to score in every single game en route to the title. -In five previous encounters between Ahli and South African clubs, Pirates are the only side who are still unbeaten against the record holders. -When they shockingly won 3-0 in Gouna in August, Pirates inflicted Ahli's worst-ever home defeat in Africa. -In 12 Champions League matches this season, Ahli failed to score three times – two of which were against Pirates home and away. -Pirates conceded just one goal in their last four Champions League home games, scored by Zamalek's Shikabala.
Abou-Treika broke Al-Khatib's goal record in Champions League Ahli -In 13 African finals they played before, Ahli have never lost in the first leg. -Mohamed Abou-Treika is currently level on three goals with Mahmoud Al-Khatib and Khaled Bibo as Ahli's top scorer in Champions League final games. -While Al-Khatib is Ahli's all-time leading goalscorer in Africa with 37 goals, Abou-Treika is the club's top scorer in the Champions League with 29 (just one more). -No outfield player has featured in more minutes for Ahli than Abdullah Al-Saied this season (970). -The only time Al-Saied did not start for Ahli this campaign curiously came in that sole group-stage defeat to Pirates. -Sherif Ekrami is the only Ahli player who has played every single minute of the team's campaign so far, although he might miss the final first-leg. QUOTES Pirates coach Roger de Sa "We will have to give our all and play with great intensity in order to get something out of that match. Ahli is a big team in the continent and how they got to the final should tell us that they will be here meaning business. "We are playing at home - we have to do everything so that we go back to Egypt without having much to worry about. I hope both teams will be able to give the fans some great spectacle. "I certainly believe that keeping a clean sheet is important for us. If we can go to Egypt with a good result, then we have got a chance. We have developed a very good mental attitude and are able to go away and get results. But we have got to get a result first and take it with us. "We have had so many messages of support. Even the Kaizer Chiefs players - who we played against on Saturday - all wished us well.
De Sa upset Ahli in group stage "From the beginning of the competition we always spoke about carrying the flag, for some of us this is the closest we are going to come to representing the nation. "I really appreciate the support, the people who are supporting the club with national pride - you don't have to be a Pirates fan, just a South African." Ahli coach Mohamed Youssef "I'm currently not thinking about anything, but the two games against Orlando Pirates. It is the most important 180 minutes of my life. My focus is on the biggest two games in Africa this year. "I have told my players to forget about the previous meetings against Orlando Pirates and focus on the final. They must use their experience to overcome the South Africans and win the title for the eighth time in the club's history. "There is a significant difference between the group phase and the final match. At the group stage, we could compensate with finishing at the top of the group or in second place and still qualify. However, there is no such compensation with the final. "We must achieve a positive result in the first leg which will help us in the return leg." TEAM NEWS Ahli talisman Abou-Treika was struggling with flu in the final pre-match training session but should be fit to start the game. Ahli are also sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Ekrami, who has been struggling with a calf problem. Should the Egypt number one fail to make the starting line-up, Ahmed Adel or Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud will step in for the first time this season. The holders are, however, boosted by the return of Egypt striker Emad Meteb, who has been out since May. Pirates will be without injured duo Siyabonga Sangweni and Patrick Phungwayo. More importantly, Thandani Ntshumayelo, who scored the opener of last August's famous 3-0 win in Gouna, is a major doubt.
