The champions of Africa won’t surrender! Wydad played one of the worst games of the CAF Champions League campaign, but they took a respectable 2-1 loss from Cairo! Saifeddine Bouhrati scored a precious away goal for the reigning champions with five minutes remaining, massively improving his team’s chances in the return leg.South African star Percy Muzi Tau and Egyptian striker Kahraba scored in each half to give Al Ahly a substantial lead in the game the Egyptian giants dominated for 85 minutes at Cairo International Stadium. They deserved to take a lead to Morocco but will feel disappointed they only hold a one-goal advantage to take to Casablanca.Huge goal for Al Ahly and Percy Tau! pic.twitter.com/NeJZvpHFz5— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) June 4, 2023 The ten-time CAFCL winners showed they know how these games are played as they looked cool and composed from the first whistle on. Their experienced Swiss coach Marcel Koller set them up to assert dominance, pass the ball around and punish any opening left by their opponents – of which there were too many.##NAJAVA_MECA_7298563##Al Ahly had to put a lot of trust in third-choice goalie Mostafa Shobeir and he repaid it by keeping the score goalless by denying Aymane El Hassouni one-on-one. It would have been a thoroughly undeserved lead for the visitors after the Egyptians have dominated the proceedings.The home crowd rejoiced after the Lybian ref Motaz Ibrahim pointed to the spot after someone in Wydad’s wall handled a Hussein El Shahat free kick. However, a VAR review showed the bad had actually hit Bouly Sambou on the back of the head. Al Ahly also had a penalty shout shortly after, but El Shahat’s dive failed to convince the ref.Gooal pic.twitter.com/pBMPf1Hkrz— 🇵🇸 دُكْتُور أَهْلاوِي 🦅 (@drAhlawy) June 4, 2023 The Red Devils finally got the deserved lead in the first half added time. Hussein El Shahat got to the byline between two Wydad defenders, who inexplicably gave the winger space to turn, take a touch and deliver a pinpoint cross right onto Tau’s head. The former Brighton forward, easily the shortest player on the field, had a free header to put his team ahead and made no mistake.Wydad’s number 10 Aymane El Hassouni danced around Al Ahly’s box and tried to stun Shobeir with a curling shot that looked destined for the top far corner – only to end up safely high and wide. It was a timely warning for Africa’s most-decorated team not to relax too soon. After all, when the reigning CAFCL holders are in your backyard, there should be no fooling around.The referee blows the full-time whistle in Cairo! 🔥#TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #ASCWAC pic.twitter.com/uyz3d3chLz— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) June 4, 2023 Captain Mohamed Hany started yet another move with an incisive forward pass into the legs of El Shahat. He spotted Mahmoud Kahraba in the centre of the area and provided his second assist of the night for the strong forward who duly doubled the lead and set off alarm bells in Sven Vandenbroeck’s camp.Wydad’s left-back Yahia Attiyat-Allah nearly put his team back in the game with a sweetly-taken half volley from the edge of the area, but he was unlucky to see it bounce of the post and out. With around 20 minutes to go, the Moroccans finally realised they might as well try to play some football and actually create something.🌍 Les clubs les plus titrés en LDC de le CAF : 🇪🇬 Al Ahly : 10 titres 🏆🇪🇬 Zamalek : 5 titres 🏆 🇨🇩 Mazembe : 5 titres 🏆 🇹🇳 Espérance : 4 titres 🏆🇬🇳 Hafia : 3 titres 🏆🇲🇦 Wydad : 3 titres 🏆En route pour la 11ème ! #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/QusDbNmCMh— Onze Masr (@onzemasr) June 4, 2023 In the middle of the visitors’ spell of pressure, Tau escaped down the right, evaded his marker and squared for Kahraba, who was in a promising postion. His left-footed curler was easily picked up by the diving goalkeeper Youssef El Motie. The punishemt would shortly come.Saifeddine Bouhrati stunned the home crowd five minutes from time with a hammering shot that left Shobeir powerless. Suddenly, the landscape of the final tie took a whole different shape.Bouhra’s goal keeps us ALIVE ! We can do it 💪❤️ pic.twitter.com/3HHIa2f26O— Wydad Shorts (@wydadshorts) June 4, 2023 The Moroccans’ late goal gives them hope they’d be able to turn the tie completely when the two teams meet again next Sunday at Stade Mohammed V.CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUEFinal, first legSundayAl Ahly – Wydad 2-1 (1-0)/Tau 45+4, Kahraba 59 – Bouhrati 86/
