CAF Confederation Cup: Orlando Pirates Fail to Score in Their Final Group Game, Qualify As Group Winners

• Orlando Pirates will find out who they face in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup on Tuesday
• The Buccaneers ended the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup with a goalless draw against Libya's Al Ittihad
• Al Ittihad have also qualified from the group as the Libyan side only needed a point to be assured of qualification

Orlando Pirates hosted Al Ittihad in their final CAF Confederation Cup game, knowing that a single point would secure them top spot in the group.

Al Ittihad needed a point as well to secure qualification to the next round as runners up to The Buccaneers.

The visitors started stronger in terms of possession but it didn’t take long for Pirates to find their feet. The Buccaneers missed the chance to take an early lead as Kwame Peprah couldn’t keep his header down. Two minutes later Bandile Shandu scuffed a shot that should have found the back of the net.

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Pirates continued to control the game and looked more likely to score, but couldn’t make the most of their chances. Richard Ofori in the Pirates goal didn’t even get to touch the ball in the opening half-hour.

Pirates came closest to opening the scoring in the 37th minute as Dlamini cut in from the left wing, delivering a fierce cross into the box. Peprah missed the ball first which found its way to Makaringa who was alone in front of the goal, but the player didn’t expect it and it hit him before bouncing away.

The game went into the break level. Al Ittihad looked to be in cruise control, wasting time any chance they got, knowing they only needed a point. Pirates brought on Thembinkosi Lorch and Gabadinho Mhango in the second half, hoping that the duo would get them an elusive goal. Lorch looked lively once he got onto the field but Pirates' play in the final third let them down.

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Neither team really threaten the goals in the final 15 minutes of play and both settled for a point. Both Pirates and Al Ittihad qualified as a result

Orlando Pirates urged to appoint former player Benni McCarthy as their next coach

The 44-year-old has been linked with his former club since last Friday, with Kaizer Chiefs also thrown in the mix as a possible next destination, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Current co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids are not regarded fondly right now by Pirates supporters, who are demanding that they be shown the door.

McCarthy's agent Rob Moore told Soccer Laduma that the former Usuthu coach would take a break to be with his family, and then take the time to reassess his options moving forward. This fuelled rumours of him joining a Soweto giant next season