Bucs will carry this advantage ahead of the decisive two-legged contest against Tunisians Etoile du Sahel next month.
Pirates have won 10 of their 14 matches in this second-tier continental competition this year while drawing two and losing twice – on both occasions to Egyptian giants Zamalek in the group stages.
They have scored a remarkable 28 goals at an average of two per match, leaving them as the most lethal team on the continent in this competition this year.
Eric Tinkler’s men have conceded 15 – six of which were against Zamalek – but they still have a notable +13 goal-difference and have not lost on their last two visits to Tunisia (1-0 win over CS Sfaxien this year and 1-1 draw against Esperance de Tunis two years ago).
Worth marvelling is that Pirates have scored in all 14 matches they have played, starting against Uganda Revenue Authority back in March to CF Mounana, AS Kaloum, AC Leopards, CS Sfaxien, Zamalek and all the way to Al-Ahly.
All that Pirates need to do is maintain that form, especially now that they know that they can travel to difficult terrains in North Africa and score four goals.
For Etoile du Sahel – who are also known as Diables Rouges (Red Devils) just like Al-Ahly – they have found the net on 18 occasions in 14 matches in this competition, just like Pirates conceding 11.
They have been very strong at home where they have won all of their seven matches at the Stade Olympique de Sousse, including a resounding 3-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs’ slayers Raja Casablanca and a 5-1 massacre of Zamalek.
They have also beaten Benfica de Luanda of Angola, Young Africans from Tanzania, Stade Malien (Mali), Al-Ahly (Egypt) and fellow Tunisians Esperance de Tunis.
Based on Etoile du Sahel’s home form this year then Bucs will yet again have to make sure that they make home advantage count at Orlando Stadium when they host the first leg on November 20-22, before they engage on yet another North African adventure to the coastal town of Sousse a week later.
Another plus for Bucs is that two of their forwards, Kermit Erasmus and Thamsanqa Gabuza, are chasing the competition’s top scorer award.
Both have five goals each and the only challenger for that prize is Etoile du Sahel’s Algerian forward Baghdad Bounedjah, who has scored six.
Though they lost the 2013 CAF Champions League Final to Al-Ahly, two cup final appearances in CAF competitions within just 24 months is no mean feat and worthy of all the respect Bucs are getting, especially considering how the rest of the PSL clubs usually struggle in Africa.
The journey of reaching a CAF club competition is more difficult that winning a domestic league or cup competition. Now that Bucs have proven to be courageous, all they need to do is finish off the job and bring the trophy to Johannesburg.