Orlando Pirates will continue their preparations for the 2026/27 season when they face Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad in their latest pre-season friendly in Spain on Tuesday.
The Buccaneers head into the encounter with a full squad available after welcoming back their Bafana Bafana internationals, who joined the team later than their teammates following South Africa’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign.
The likes of Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis etc were granted a short break after representing the national team at the global showpiece before linking up with their club teammates during the Spanish training camp.
Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history before their journey came to an end with a narrow defeat to Canada in the Round of 32.
Following their return from international duty, the players were afforded time to recover before reporting back for club duty as Pirates continued their pre-season preparations.
Their return has provided head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou with the opportunity to work with his full squad as he continues implementing his ideas ahead of the new campaign.
Moremi wasted little time making an impact after rejoining the team, scoring in Pirates’ previous friendly against Cádiz as he began building match fitness ahead of the season.
The return of the Bafana contingent has also increased competition for places within the squad, with players now pushing for starting positions as the Buccaneers prepare for another demanding campaign.
Tuesday’s clash against Al Ittihad represents one of Pirates’ toughest tests of the tour, with the Saudi Pro League side expected to provide a different challenge for Ouaddou’s team.
The Buccaneers have used their time in Spain to focus on more than just results, with the technical team prioritising fitness, tactical understanding and improving combinations across the squad.
With the Betway Premiership, MTN8, domestic cup competitions and CAF Champions League commitments awaiting, building cohesion during pre-season remains a key objective.
For the returning Bafana players, the remaining fixtures also provide an opportunity to regain rhythm after their World Cup involvement while competing for places in a highly competitive Pirates squad.
After facing Al Ittihad, the Buccaneers will conclude their Spanish tour with further friendlies against Las Palmas and Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom FC.
Those matches will give Ouaddou additional opportunities to assess his squad and fine-tune preparations before Pirates enter the final phase of their build-up towards the 2026/27 season.
