Riveiro sparks exit talk ahead of Pirates' Champions League clash

by Staff Reporter

Monday Mar 31, 2025. 14:00

Orlando Pirates travel to Algeria to face MC Alger on Tuesday evening in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final clash at the 5 July 1962 Stadium.

Kick-off is at 21h00 CAT.

The Buccaneers are aiming to continue their impressive continental campaign, having topped Group C ahead of Al Ahly with an unbeaten record of four wins and two draws.

This marks their first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals since 2013. They face a tough test against MC Alger, who finished second in Group A, just one point behind Al Hilal, with two wins, three draws, and a single loss in the group stage.

Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has sparked speculation about his future at the club ahead of the clash, saying that it’s normal that “all things come to an end”.

“I don’t want to know, I just want to live in the moment, the next training, the next game, the next opportunity to do what I like, to do what I love, which is to be the Orlando Pirates coach right now.

“Football is something that is totally unexpected and difficult to predict and to know where we are going to find ourselves in a space of one month, or four months, or six, or one year. So let’s rock for now,” he added.

MC Alger coach Khaled Ben Yahia is said to be concerned about the state of the pitch in the stadium, following an Algerian Cup clash last Wednesday with several players losing their footing during the encounter.

It is believed that the club president has taken measures to ensure the improvement of the playing ground before the first leg on Tuesday.