Orlando Pirates find themselves in the same predicament as DStv Premiership rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns with regards to their involvement in the CAF competitions, after the latest announcement about the venue of their next match in the continental competition.
After both Chiefs and Sundowns had a change of venue to different African countries due to opposition teams raising fears about COVID-19, it had been predicted that Pirates could be in a similar situation for their CAF Confederation Cup group stage matches.
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After last week’s draw, it was confirmed that Bucs are in Group A with Algerian side ES Sétif, Nigeria’s Enyimba and Ahli Benghazi of Libya.
Last weekend, Sundowns played their Champions League group stage match against Algerian side CR Belouizdad in Tanzania, which was a neutral venue chosen by the Algerians after the authorities in their country denied the Brazilians entry into the country.
In January, Bloemfontein Celtic had their CAF Confederation Cup match against Rivers United rescheduled, after the Nigerian government raised fears about COVID-19.
With Pirates scheduled to travel to Sétif next week for their first leg match, reports in Ghana have suggested that the match will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
“The Accra sports stadium has been chosen as venue for next week’s Total CAF Confederation cup game between Algerian side ES Setif and Orlando Pirates from South Africa,” ghanafa.org confirmed on their official website.
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“The game which was originally scheduled for Setif on March 10, 2021, has been moved to Accra because the Algerian government has suspended all sea and air travels between it and some African countries including South Africa. As a result, the GFA was called upon for Accra to host the match. All stakeholders have been informed and are ready and eager to extend the usual Ghana hospitality to the participating clubs. Setif will be making their second trip to Accra in three weeks following last month’s contest against Asante Kotoko,” reads the statement.
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“The GFA is working closely with the government COVID-19 response team to ensure that officials and players of both clubs go through the necessary COVID-19 protocols during their stay in Ghana,” confirmed ghanafa.org.
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