Mandla Ncikazi: We deserved to win Simba in the second-leg

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi feels his side deserved to win the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg against Simba SC in a “nerve-wracking” clash at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

The Buccaneers advanced to the semi-finals of the competition after securing a 4-3 win on penalties in the return leg after the game ended 1-1 on aggregate over the two legs.

Pirates will now take on the winner in the match between Libyan clubs Al Ittihad and Al Ahli in the semi-finals as they look to secure their maiden Confederation Cup title.

Ncikazi revealed that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not work at the time and felt his side should have been awarded two penalties for handballs by Simba, but the matter was not checked by VAR.

“[It was] nerve-wracking, it’s really African football but I thought if there was one team that deserved to win today it was Orlando Pirates,” Ncikazi told media.

“Not even to go to penalties, for the number of chances that we created. But I loved the composure from our team with everything that was happening.

“At some point, I saw the officials going to VAR, which was functioning, at some point, it didn’t function.

“I don’t know why from where I was standing, I also saw two handballs. I don’t know whether it’s a manipulation of the rule.

“But it would’ve been nice to refer the two handballs to VAR. Why it was not working, it’s still amazing in my eyes.”