What Will Orlando Pirates Look Like in the 2025/26 Season

At the end of last season, José Riveiro decided to leave Orlando Pirates after several successful campaigns. The “Buccaneers” have since settled on a new head coach: Abdeslam Ouaddou.

With recent developments in mind, our team has put together a projection of what Orlando Pirates might look like next season.

Abdeslam Ouaddou’s Tactics

Ouaddou's most recent managerial role was with Marumo Gallants, another club competing in South Africa’s Premier Division. With them, he managed 12 matches, winning five, drawing four, and losing three. Notably, he began his stint at Gallants with a win over Orlando Pirates. He also led the team to the semi-finals of the South African Cup.

• Read also: Who is Abdeslam Ouaddou? All you need to know about the new Orlando Pirates coach

Throughout those 12 matches, Ouaddou deployed two tactical systems: the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-1-4-1. He finished the season using the latter, going unbeaten in his final run—three draws and one win.

For Orlando Pirates, this won’t be a drastic change. The team often operated with a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, occasionally morphing it into a 4-3-3.

In his matches, Ouaddou frequently adapted to his opponents and adjusted his game plan accordingly. There were fixtures where Marumo Gallants dominated possession and tempo, and others where they ceded control.

However, Orlando Pirates operate at a different level. They’re the Premier Division runners-up, cup winners, and semi-finalists in the CAF Champions League. The Buccaneers aim to play dominant football, raising the key question: what approach will Ouaddou take? Will he follow in José Riveiro’s footsteps, or impose his own vision? We’ll only know once the season unfolds.

Orlando Pirates Squad

Orlando Pirates clearly boast a stronger squad than Marumo Gallants and rank among the best in South Africa—and the region as a whole. Yet there’s always room for improvement, and recent official news confirms the Pirates have secured the signings of winger Tshepang Moremi, defender Tshepo Mashiloane, and midfielder Sifiso Mbule.

• Also: OFFICIAL: Orlando Pirates unveil new midfielder

There are also persistent rumours about a promising young full-back from South Africa’s U20 national team, Neo Rapoo. Additionally, the Pirates are reportedly interested in Angolan striker Depu, though no concrete talks have emerged yet.

But it’s not all good news for fans. Relebohile Mofokeng is currently in talks with several clubs in Israel and could make a summer move abroad.

• “He can play anywhere.” Relebohile Mofokeng’s father speaks on his son’s future

Taking all this into account, our team has prepared a potential starting lineup for Orlando Pirates under Abdeslam Ouaddou next season:

• Sifo Chaine – Dean van Rooyen, Tshepo Mashiloane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Neo Rapoo – Sifiso Mbule, Thalente Mbatha, Tshepang Moremi, Mohau Nkota, Patrick Maswanganyi – Depu

Naturally, this is a preliminary projection and will likely evolve depending on transfer activity and developments throughout the summer.

Fan Expectations

As with any such appointment or major news, opinions are divided. Some fans welcome the new coach, while others view it as a mistake, believing the club’s leadership has blundered. Others argue that Rulani Mokwena would have been a better choice for the role.

Conclusion

The concerns from the fanbase are entirely valid—change can be unsettling, especially after the success achieved under the previous manager. However, Orlando Pirates are making active moves in the transfer market and are clearly looking to strengthen the squad. The ultimate verdict will become clear only as the new season progresses.