Pyramids the most difficult opponent yet for Orlando Pirates - Jose Riveiro

The Buccaneers head to their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg at FNB Stadium tomorrow, driven by their impressive unbeaten throughout the campaign thus far.

Just 180 minutes between them and a first CAF inter-club final since 2022, Riveiro says the Egyptian Premier League log leaders are no regular opponent.

"It is the most difficult team we haven't played yet and are about to play this season, from my point of view – the fact they're leading the domestic league and doing well in the cup competitions as well, with a brilliant Champions League this season, says a lot about them," said Riveiro.

"But after all, having analysed them and knowing a little bit more about the way they play football, and the complexity it requires to stop them tomorrow, I can tell you they're not like in the semi-final – like us, Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns – by chance.

"We're here because we were doing things very well all the way through the competition and they're a difficult team to control in defence, with a lot of talent in their front four, their experience and they muster in the way they try and play football in possession.

"So we know the importance of making sure that tomorrow we can be in our best version, otherwise any other version is not going to be enough – we accept the challenge and we're ready to go.

"We really want to test ourselves one more time in this moment of the competition, and let's see how good we can be on the day, and for sure it's going to be an qual game – it's a semi-final of the Champions League, so yeah."

READ: Pirates explain CAF semi-final move to FNB Stadium