The president of Orlando Pirates' next CAF Champions League opponents claims to be happy to have drawn the Buccaneers in the continental competition's next round, rather than any of their fellow North African sides.
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On Thursday afternoon, the CAF Champions League knockout phase draw was conducted, and all the remaining eight teams found out how their respective routes to the competition's final had been mapped out.
The Sea Robbers successfully qualified for the knockout rounds for the first time since making it to the final during the 2012/13 season, and given the bracket they have been drawn in, they will likely be fancying their chances of reaching that stage of the competition once again.
First up for them, however, will be a last-eight clash against MC Algers, a team that is also returning to Africa's premier competition after a prolonged absence. This is the first time since the 2020/21 campaign that the Algerian outfit have made it this far, but they are also happy to have come up against Jose Riveiro's charges.
Speaking after the draw, the president of El Mouloudia, Hadj Redjem Mohamed Hakim, claimed that he was relieved to have been pitted against EzikaMagebhula and not any of the other four North African clubs left in the tournament.
"Orlando Pirates is a strong opponent, but avoiding Arab derbies is a good thing," the Algerian executive told beIN Sports.
The MC Algers chief did, however, reveal that his side can make it all the way to the final and play the record competition winners, Al Ahly.
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"We want to go far in this tournament and hope to face Al-Ahly in the final match," he added.
