‘We hope the Nigerians will get behind us’ – Fadlu Davids

Fadlu Davids has urged Nigerian football fans to support Orlando Pirates when they clash with RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup on Friday, 20 May 2022.

Pirates paved their way to the final when they won with a 2-1 aggregate score against Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya while Berkane got the better of TP Mazembe with a 4-2 aggregate score.

Olisa Ndah was fortunate to have his country Nigeria being awarded hosting rights of the Confederation Cup final. Davids says Nigerians should come to support their prodigal son.

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“We are quite happy because it’s a neutral venue. If the final was in Morocco, it would have been a different story. So we are quite happy,” said Fadlu, at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday morning ahead of Friday’s final.

“I urge the Nigeria supporters to come and support us. Their prodigal son, Ndah, returns to their stadium. We are playing at the Akwa Stadium where he won the league before joining Pirates. We hope the Nigerians will get behind us at the stadium.

“We hope to have the extra 12th man in the stands at the stadium. So, we are hoping that they come out in numbers. A neutral venue could become our home ground. So, we are quite happy with the venue.”

Ndah was part of the Nigerian squad that went to compete in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in January, meaning he’s no stranger there. Since he arrived at Bucs this season, their defense has gotten even better than it was in the last campaign.

Asked if he thought opponents are favourites. Davids said: “One aspect is a team that wants it more, yes that is a small aspect. Tactically, it’s very important, how the game plays out, how we manage emotions in certain areas of the pitch. Sometimes we are going to be under pressure and how we manage those moments,” he added.

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“And sometimes we are going on top. A clear example was the previous match, 2-0 away from home against Al Ahli Tripoli and you are going into the match, playing at home wanting to attack and you play against the team that has nothing to lose. So that’s where I talk about managing emotions in the first 20-30 minutes of the previous match. We were not able to manage our emotions, not being able to play normal football.

“I think tactically, it’s going to be very important this match because they’ve played in two different shapes in the 4-3-3, in the 4-2-3-1 as well but a similar profile in how they approach their match. Tall physical players, three upfront, quick wingers, tall target man. So tactically how we not only handle their threat but we impose our game.”