Why Pirates must win - All the permutations

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