South African winger Percy Tau could play a key role in helping Al Ahly overcome defending champions Wydad Casablanca in the Caf Champions League final first leg on Sunday.
It is the second title decider in a row between the north African giants and the third in seven seasons, with Wydad seeking a hat-trick after two victories.
Ahly hopes that stars like Tau can help the Cairo Red Devils achieve a record-setting 11th victory in the premier African club competition.
Tau, who joined Ahly from Brighton of the Premier League two years ago, was outstanding in the semi-final victory over Esperance of Tunisia, another leading north African club.
He scored twice in a 3-0 victory on the road and assisted Hussein el Shahat’s lone goal in the return match with a magnificent pass from the centre circle.
Three-time Champions League champions Wydad will be in trouble if they reproduce this performance on Sunday and in Casablanca on June 11.
Tau called the transfer to Ahly a “dream move” despite the fact that many South Africans were disappointed that the 29-year-old failed to make the grade in the Premier League after three loan stints in Belgium.
“To represent Ahly is a dream come true. They are giants, winning 23 African competitions, including the Champions League 10 times,” he said.
“Putting on the Ahly jersey means representing a football dynasty. No matter who we face there is only one thought — victory. Success is embedded in the Ahly DNA.”
Tau has scored four goals in the Champions League this season. One of them came in an embarrassing 5-2 loss to his old team, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, in the group stage.
“Losing so heavily made that a horrible day for us, but we recovered brilliantly, winning five of our subsequent six matches and drawing the other,” added Tau.
Tau has been to the Champions League finals before. He won with Sundowns in 2016 and lost with Ahly at Wydad last year in a one-match decider where there was a dispute over where the game would be played.
Ahly wanted the game to be played at a neutral site instead of the Moroccans’ home field, but their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland was denied, so they had to go along with the decision.
Wydad won 2-0 thanks to a great goal from Zouhair el Moutaraji, who is also on the team for the first leg.
Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck, who is the fourth coach of Wydad this season, knows that Ahly will want to get back at Wydad for beating them in 2022.
“Ahly will be going all out for revenge after what happened last season. So, it is vital that I and my squad remain calm and unified. I think certain individual battles will play key roles.
“I am not feeling any pressure because it is logical to try and win every competition when you become coach of a great club like Wydad.
“I am hoping for the same outcome as last season. There is little to choose between Wydad and Ahly and playing at home in the second leg could give us a slight edge.”
Marcel Koller, who plays for Ahly, was upset before the first leg after the Egyptian Premier League leaders beat Ceramic 1-0 in a boring game on Monday.
“The only good thing about that game was winning it,” said the 62-year-old former Austria manager, who is working in Africa for the first time having moved to Cairo last year.
“If we show the same lack of concentration and sloppy defending against Wydad on Sunday, we will be in trouble.”
Koller probably had Bouly Sambou in mind when he told his defence to be careful. The big Senegalese is tied for the Champions League lead with seven goals for Wydad.
The record $4 million ($3.7 million euros) first prize, which is up from $2.5 million last season, is another reason for both teams to do well.
Photo by EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
