Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was all smiles on Friday night after his side booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stage with a comfortable win over African Stars.

The Buccaneers thrashed the Namibian side 4-0 in the second leg of the second preliminary round at Orlando Stadium, sealing a 5-0 aggregate victory. They had already won the first leg 1-0 away in Botswana last week.

Speaking after the match, Ouaddou made it clear he was not satisfied with just four goals. “I was pushing for the fifth and sixth!” he said with a broad smile. “When we went 4-0 up, I still wanted more. I was telling the players to keep going and score again.”

The French coach admitted the first half was not as smooth as he would have liked, even though Pirates scored twice before the break. “We did not control the game the way we wanted in the first half,” he explained. “But the second half was much better. We scored two more and we kept a clean sheet. That is what matters.”

Ouaddou was also happy to see some of his younger players get valuable minutes. He said the experience will help them grow as the season continues. “The young boys came in and did well. This is good for them and good for the club,” he added.

On the showboating that some supporters noticed late in the game, the coach said he had no problem with it. Players such as Popo and Masilela entertained the crowd after the result was already safe. “As long as we scored four goals and did not concede, I am fine with it,” Ouaddou said. “The fans enjoyed it and the players were happy. That is part of football when you are winning comfortably.”

For Pirates, the result marks a successful return to the group stage after they failed to qualify last season. Ouaddou has repeatedly said that the Champions League feels incomplete without the Buccaneers involved. Friday’s win now gives the club another chance to compete at the highest level in Africa.

With the group stage still to come, the coach has already shifted his focus. He wants the squad to stay sharp and prepare properly for the tougher matches ahead. The victory over African Stars is a solid start, but Ouaddou knows bigger challenges are waiting.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2113744833336447091