CAF Confederations Cup: Orlando Pirates Co Coach Mandla Ncikazi Aiming to Finish Group Stages on a High

• Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi aims to see the team depart the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup on a high
• The Buccaneers sealed qualification in the quarterfinals of the competition after an excellent 2-0 away in Algeria against JS Saoura
• Despite this, Ncikazi wants to seal first place in group B of the round-robin stages and take momentum into the last week

Under-pressure Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi refused to rest on his laurels despite more success on the team's African assignments.

The Buccaneers sealed qualification in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederations Cup comfortably with one match to go. They defeated group B opponents JS Saoura 2-0 away in Algeria on Sunday night with goals from Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Kabelo Dlamini.

They can now seal the top spot in the group when they take on Al Ittihad the weekend after next. The Libyans defeated Pirates 3-2 in north Africa, which should be added motivation for the Bucs to settle the score.

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According to Soccer Laduma, Ncikazi intends to go about the job professionally.

He said:

"We are a professional side, we are going to play Ittihad and play to win. We are going to put our strong team so that we win the match. To us, all matches are played to win, that’s a professional side. So, it’s not going to be an easy match but we are going to play our best side against Ittihad and play to win."

Pirates will have to do without the in-form Goodman Mosele for the encounter. The midfielder was sent off against Saoura for receiving two yellow cards, though he'll still be in action for Bafana Bafana as they take on Guinea and France a few days before that in Europe.

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Full-back Ntsikelelo Nyauza scored with a powerful header as South African club Orlando Pirates reached the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with a 2-0 win over JS Saoura in Algeria.

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As reported by Sports Brief, Nyauza struck on 48 minutes and Kabelo Dlamini doubled the lead just three minutes later with a clinical side-footed finish at the national stadium in Algiers.

There was no way back for Saoura even after Pirates were reduced to 10 men 14 minutes from time when Goodman Mosele was sent off after being yellow-carded twice.