Abdeslam Ouaddou warns Orlando Pirates against complacency after African Stars victory

The Soweto giants claimed a 1-0 victory over the Namibian champions in the first leg of their second preliminary-round tie at the Botswana National Stadium on Saturday, with Tshepang Moremi finding the decisive goal in the second half, as they aim to secure a place in the CAF Champions League group stages.

The result gives Pirates an advantage heading into next Friday's return leg at the Orlando Amstel Arena, but Ouaddou has stressed that qualification remains the priority and that his team cannot afford to take their opponents lightly.

"I cannot say we have one foot in the group stages; we still have an important second half there, and we will have to prepare for this to qualify for the group stages," Ouaddou told the media.

"It's an important target for the club, the technical team and the players, so we'll rest and prepare well so we can start that game to win it."

The Moroccan tactician also reflected on the physical demands of the encounter, explaining that his team expected a difficult contest against the Namibian outfit.

"For us, we knew we'd have an advantage in the second half; if we keep strong, maybe at a later stage of the game, we can have a physical advantage," he said.

Playing in the scorching Botswana heat presented another challenge, but Ouaddou revealed that Pirates had prepared for the conditions well in advance to ensure they remained focused on their mission.

The club's analysis department had warned the technical team about temperatures reaching between 35 and 36 degrees Celsius, allowing the players to prepare mentally for the demanding conditions.

"When we prepared for this game in the week, at the beginning of the week, our analysis department already told us that we will have 35 degrees, 36 degrees. So, we were prepared for that. I said to my boys that we are on a mission and soldiers who are going to the mission," he added.

"We don't care about the weather; it can be 40 degrees, it can be -10. We are going there to get results and to go through the next group stages."

Ouaddou believes adapting to different conditions is part of the learning process for his players, particularly as they pursue continental success.

"Mentally, we prepared the boys because, you know, when you play in the Champions League, you have to adapt to any condition, and it's part of the development of the boys; it's part of football."