What Bucs need to do - to reach CAF semis

Orlando Pirates have let their once dominant position in their ACL group slip. Here are the permutations going into the final match.

 

Pirates host Egyptian giants Al Ahli on Sunday in what will be a crunch fixture for their hopes of adding a second star to their badge.

 

The permutations are numerous, but it basically comes down to these facts: A win will see them top the pool, a draw and they need Zamalek to beat Leopards in the other game, a defeat and they are out.

 

Given that CAF calculates final group positions on head to head, rather than goal-difference (a disadvantage for Bucs in this case), here are the permutations in detail.

 

IF PIRATES WIN

Victory for Pirates will see them top the pool ahead of Ahli and likely avoid meeting with Tunisian giants Esperance in the next round.

 

Even if Leopards win as well, it will leave all three sides on 10 points, creating a mini-league that will be led by Pirates as they would have the most points in matches between the teams.

 

Their two wins over Ahli and draw with Leopards would give them seven points, while Ahli would have six from their two wins over Leopards. Leopards would have just the four they gained against Pirates.

 

IF PIRATES DRAW

If Pirates draw against Ahli, they then need Zamalek to beat Leopards in Egypt to advance. A draw also for Leopards and they would remain in front of Pirates on head-to-head and would be into the next round with table-toppers Ahli.

 

IF PIRATES LOSE

A defeat for Pirates would see them ousted from the competition, no matter what the result in the fixture between Zamalek and Leopards.

 

Even a Zamalek win would leave all three sides on seven points, creating another mini-league situation between the three sides.

 

That would take Leopards through, as they would have seven points, three from their home win over Zamalek and the four gained against Pirates. The Buccaneers would have just four points from a home win over Zamalek and a draw in Orlando against Leopards.   

 

The Egyptian side would have six points from their home wins over Pirates and Leopards, taking them to third in the pool and leaving the South African

club with the wooden spoon.

 

- MTN Football