Abdeslam Ouaddou welcomes AFCON break | OneFootball

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Ouaddou unfazed by AFCON hiatus

Photo: Orlando Pirates @ Facebook

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou takes no issue with the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hiatus despite his team being in a rich vein of fine form.

The Buccaneers recently clinched the Carling Knockout Cup trophy at the expense of Marumo Gallants this past Saturday, to make it two domestic cup titles in the 2025/26 campaign.

What's more, Pirates are two points clear at the summit of the Betway Premiership table and are enjoying a 10-game unbeaten run in the league.

Despite the momentum, the Bucs mentor says the AFCON break came at the right moment to afford his charges ample rest time as they were competing on all fronts throughout the year.

“I think the break will come in the right moment because we have been playing such many games. If you take into consideration the Champions League games, cup games, the PSL games - I cannot tell you exactly how many games but definitely we played more games than Marumo and many teams,” said Ouaddou.

"So, the break comes at the right moment and it's the moment of the national team as well. The nation needs our players, the nation needs fit players and I want them to give everything, it's not holidays for some of them.

"Some of them will have rest after the last game [vs Carling All-Stars] because we still have a last game, very important [game] that we want to win. We want to win the trophy, very important for us.

With nine Pirates players heading to the continental showpiece with Bafana Bafana, Ouaddou says he will be monitoring their displays closely in Morocco.

“But the guys who are going to the national team, I will watch the games and I will be close to them and I will evaluate their performances because I told them they have to give 100% at the national team, for their country,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Soweto giants will play their final match of 2025 when they clash with the Carling All-Stars team in an exhibition match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.