The “Magic of the Cup” turned into a nightmare for the Ghost on Saturday night as Orlando Pirates were unceremoniously dumped out of the Nedbank Cup Round of 16. In a result that has sent shockwaves through South African football, Motsepe Foundation Championship underdogs Casric Stars eliminated the defending champions 5-4 on penalties following a grueling 0-0 stalemate at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
Despite dominating possession and territory for 120 minutes, the Buccaneers lacked the clinical edge required to dispatch their lower-league opponents, leading to a “David vs. Goliath” upset that will go down in the tournament’s history books.
“The Same Old Story”: Ouaddou Laments Missed Chances
Speaking to the media in a somber post-match press conference, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed deep frustration over his side’s inability to kill off the game in regulation time.
“We started the game exactly like we wanted. We wanted to suffocate that team quickly,” Ouaddou noted. “But it’s the same story as previous games; when you miss such valuable chances in the first half, you give confidence to the opponent. They defended well, they did their job.”
The coach confirmed that while the team had specifically prepared for the “probability” of a penalty shootout during training this week, the psychological pressure of the lottery favored the visitors.
Injury Woes and New Signings
Ouaddou also used the briefing to address the state of his squad during this turbulent period. He provided a fitness update on fan-favorite Kabelo Dlamini, confirming the midfielder has been sidelined with an injury for three weeks and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Regarding new signing Andre (Dong), who has faced early scrutiny from the Orlando faithful, the coach urged for patience:
“His integration is coming step by step. In a big club like Pirates, people say we don’t have time, but we have to back him. The goals don’t come only from him; they must come from the whole front line.”
“13 Finals”: The Road to Redemption
The defeat marks a devastating “double-blow” for Pirates, coming hot on the heels of a league loss to Mamelodi Sundowns. However, Ouaddou was defiant, refusing to let the cup exit derail their entire 2026 campaign.
With the Soweto Derby looming, the coach has challenged his players to “wash the brain” and refocus on the Betway Premiership title race.
“I told them that we still have 13 finals coming. Nothing is lost about the title race. We have to find the resources to bounce back, just like we did at the beginning of the season when we won 11 games in a row,” Ouaddou asserted.
