Córdoba CF returned to training this Wednesday and will play its first summer friendly on Wednesday, July 15th, at 7:00 PM at the Marbella Football Center. Iván Ania's team will face Orlando Pirates, a South African club with a notable track record.
The chosen opponent is one of the most decorated clubs in South Africa, with ten league titles, fourteen MTN8 Cups, two League Cups, ten South African Cups, and one African Champions League title. The Pirates arrive as the reigning champions of the League, Cup, and MTN8.
The South African team is undertaking its preparation on the Costa del Sol with seven internationals who participated in the 2026 World Cup. This is not the first time Orlando Pirates has served as a sparring partner for Spanish teams during their Andalusian training camp; last pre-season, they played against Granada CF and UD Las Palmas. The match will be open to the public.
Following this initial match, Córdoba CF's preparation schedule will intensify. On July 23rd, they will face Sevilla FC in the Torneo Puertas de Córdoba, and on July 31st, they will play against Elche CF. These encounters against La Liga opponents, added to the initial clash with Orlando Pirates, outline a more than serious start to the pre-season for the squad Ania is beginning to shape for the 2026-27 season.
It is anticipated that the team will play between five and six friendlies this summer, with several more matches yet to be confirmed to complete the preparation schedule.
