Pirates were knocked out by the Congolese side after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout defeat, following a 3-3 draw on aggregate — ending their hopes of reaching the group stages.
Speaking after the match, Bukasa revealed that he hadn't expected Ouaddou to omit both of his traditional forwards, Tshegofatso Mabasa and Yanela Mbuthuma, from the starting lineup.
"Honestly, yes, I was surprised," Bukasa told reporters. "But it didn't change much in their organisation. They kept the ball, tried to use the width and come inside to create spaces close to them."
Bukasa credited Pirates for adapting during the game, noting that their long-range attempts caused Lupopo problems.
"When they decided to shoot from distance, they found some solutions," he added.
"We knew they would continue to keep the ball with players like [Oswin] Appollis and [Tshepang] Moremi doing the same things."
Mabasa remained on the bench, while Mbuthuma was introduced in the second half and went on to score Pirates' second goal — but it wasn't enough to prevent elimination.
"So yes, I was surprised by the decision to play without a real number nine, but it didn't make them less dangerous," he concluded.
Marumo Gallants coach Alexandre Lafitte believes his side has what it takes to pull off another upset when they face Orlando Pirates in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on December 6.
Orlando Pirates will enjoy home advantage when they take on Marumo Gallants in the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup final, after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) confirmed the venue and date for the much-anticipated clash.
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was proud to see his side secure their place in the final of the Carling Knockout with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Richards Bay on Saturday.
Orlando Pirates secured their place in a second cup final this season after edging Richards Bay FC 1-0 in the Carling Knockout semi-final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
