Orlando Pirates encouraged not to underestimate CAF opponents

After being drawn in Group B with JS Kabylie of Algeria or Royal Leopard of eSwatini, JS Saoura of Algeria and Al Ittihad of Libya, supporters believe the Buccaneers have been handed what looks like on paper a favourable draw.

45. Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)

21. Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

10. AS Vita Club (DR Congo)

8. Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

7. Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

6. Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)

5. TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

4. Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)

3. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

2. Zamalek SC (Egypt)

1. Al Ahly SC (Egypt)

9. Raja Athletic Club (Morocco)

"It takes a month's form to win a cup.

"Yes teams who normally lifts the Nedbank Cup type of tournaments in their own countries, are usually not the same team that wins the league.

"So it can take the form team two or three games to reach the final, but it doesn't take away the quality of the teams.

"A whole lot of the teams at this level are those who have dropped down from the CAF Champions League.

"I understand people's belief but I want now to assure them that the teams that eventually falls down to the Confed Cup group stages are the teams that lifted league titles in their own country.

"So the quality of those leagues is no piece of cake and those that were in the Champions League have now graduated to Confed Cup group stages.

"So it's not going to be easy, in each team that is in the group stages there's quality."