Ostriches clash with USMA tonight
27 Nov 2024
Orapa United start their journey in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage tonight against 2022/23 winners of the competition, Union Sportive de la Mèdina d'Alger (USMA) of Algeria.
The Group C match will be played at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in the Algerian capital city Algiers at 9pm.
The Ostriches are rookies in this stage of the competition, having squeezed past Zimbabwe football giants, Dynamos 3-1 on penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on aggregate in the second preliminary round.
Their previous sojourns in the competition saw them suffer preliminary round eliminations by Mbabane Swallows in 2017, Petro Luanda in 2019 and Coton Sport in 2021.
USMA by contrast are experienced campaigners on the continent having gone beyond this stage of the CAF Confederation Cup in each of their recent three campaigns.
Their glorious moment came in the 2022/23 season when they went all the way to the final and won the title through the away goals rule, after a 2-2 draw against Young Africans of Tanzania, with Botswana striker Tumisang Orebonye part of that USMA team.
The team from the suburbs of Algiers, who are currently in second place behind CS Constantine in the Algerian Professional League, also reached the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals last season and the quarterfinals in the 2017/18 season.
With a track record like that and fervent support at home, tonight’s encounter promises to be a challenging one for Orapa United.
However, the Ostriches under coach Dimitar Pantev have shown that they are no pushover, having already eliminated Forresters of Seychelles and Dynamos from this season’s competition.
With experienced players such as Lesenya Malapela, Thato Kebue, Ivan Kamberipa, Mpho Kgaswane, Gofaone Mabaya, Koketso Majafi and the sensational Aime Azande, the Ostriches are capable of springing a surprise in Algiers.
Meanwhile, another Group C encounter will see Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas clash with ASC Jaraaf at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan at 6pm. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Jeremiah Sejabosigo
Location : Gaborone
Event : preview
Date : 27 Nov 2024
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