Orlando Pirates suffers triple blow for Mamelodi Sundowns MTN8 semifinal first leg clash at Orlando Stadium this upcoming Saturday.
Ahead of the repeat of the 2022-2023 MTN8 semifinal encounter, the Buccaneers will be without three key players as confirmed by the club’s head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The Morrocan tactician confirmed that the trio of Nkosinathi Sibisi, Olisa Ndah, Makhehlene Makhaula, will miss the first leg due to respective injuries.
While the club’s captain Sibisi played the club’s two first matches against Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United before getting injured ahead of the last match against Marumo Gallants, Ndah and Makhaula are carrying injuries from last season.
Ndah missed the majority of last season through a handful of injuries and has recently returned to full training, while Makhaula missed the club’s last few matches of the season and has also returned to training.
In the absence of the trio, Mbekezeli Mbokazi is expected to partner Thapelo Xoki or Lebone Seema in the central defence of Pirates, while Sihle Nduli is expected to continue deputising for Makhaula in the heart of the middlefield.
The match in Esigodini will kick off at 3 pm South African time.