After Saturday’s Shootout Shock, Ouaddou Admits Pirates’ Costly Flaw
Orlando Pirates’ quest for an 11th Nedbank Cup title came to a dramatic end on Saturday night after a shock penalty shootout defeat to Casric Stars at the Orlando Stadium.
Following a tense Round of 16 encounter that finished 0–0 after 120 minutes, the tie was decided from the spot. It was Casric Stars who held their nerve, converting five penalties to Pirates’ four to secure a historic quarter-final berth – the first in the club’s history.
For Pirates, the result marked a stunning exit from a competition they have dominated in recent seasons. It is the first time in four years that the Buccaneers have failed to progress beyond this stage of the Nedbank Cup, bringing their cup ambitions to an abrupt halt.
Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou did not shy away from expressing his frustration after the match, pointing directly at his team’s inefficiency in front of goal.
“It’s a big disappointment tonight,” Ouaddou said during the post-match press conference. “We started the game exactly how we wanted. We wanted to suffocate them in the first half and create chances. I think we created the most valuable chances in that period. Unfortunately, it’s the same story as some previous games – it’s very important to be efficient, especially in the cup.”
Pirates controlled large spells of the match and fashioned several clear opportunities, particularly in the first half. However, their inability to convert those chances allowed Casric Stars to grow in belief as the contest wore on.
“When you miss such chances in the first half, you give confidence to the opponent,” Ouaddou added.
The shootout defeat ended Pirates’ pursuit of silverware in the Nedbank Cup this season, despite the club already lifting the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies earlier in the campaign. Their primary focus now shifts firmly to the Betway Premiership – a title they have not won in 14 years.
Orlando Pirates vs Casric Stars Nedbank Cup Last 16 Review (Image: @orlandopirates/ X)
While Pirates reflected on missed opportunities, Casric Stars head coach Bucks Mthombeni praised his players for executing their strategy to perfection.
According to Mthombeni, the plan was clear: avoid conceding early and stretch the game as long as possible.
“We didn’t want to concede in the first 30 minutes,” he explained. “If Pirates couldn’t score early, we believed we could force the game into the second half and possibly extra time.”
That approach paid off. Casric Stars defended resolutely and relied on crucial saves from their goalkeeper to keep the score level. By the time penalties arrived, momentum had shifted psychologically.
“I think Pirates were the better team and created more opportunities,” Mthombeni admitted. “But the goalkeeper saved us on the day.”
The victory represents one of the biggest upsets of this season’s Nedbank Cup and secures Casric Stars a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The full quarter-final line-up was confirmed yesterday following the completion of the remaining Round of 16 fixtures. All eight teams will learn their next opponents during the official draw at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg at 6:30pm on Monday evening.
There is little time for Pirates to dwell on cup heartbreak. Attention now turns to the biggest fixture in South African football – the Soweto Derby.
Pirates will face arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium this Saturday. The high-stakes encounter could carry significant implications in the league title race.
With their Nedbank Cup campaign over, the Buccaneers must quickly regroup. The question now is whether this dramatic cup exit will serve as motivation – or whether the psychological blow will linger heading into the derby.
One thing is certain: the pressure has intensified.