Khanyiso Mayo's CR Belouizdad leapfrogged Orlando Pirates in Group C after defeating Al Ahly in CAF Champions League action on Friday night.
CAF Champions League
Result: CR Belouizdad 1-0 Al Ahly
Date: 03 January 2025
Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet 1962
South African Percy Tau was among players who were dropped from the goalless draw against ENPPI in the league, as The Red Devils only retained Abdou Ali in a new attack that also had Hussein El Shahat, Amr Solia and Karim El Debes.
Fellow Bafana striker Khanyisa Mayo was in the line-up for Belouizdad, who were hammered 6-1 by the same side in mid December.
Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges, with the sides limited to shots from range which were not accurate.
Al Ahly had the momentum after the half-hour mark but it was CRB who got the first shot on target ten minutes before the interval after Islam Belkhir was denied by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
The game opened up towards the end of the first stanza, as Rami Rabia also had a chance for Marcel Koller's charges with a header that that was gathered by shot-stopper Moustapha Zeghba.
Mayo also came close to breaking the deadlock for Belouizdad at the other end on the stroke of half-time with a header in the box that was kept out by El Shenawy, as the sides went to the break without goals.
The Algerian side showed urgency from the interval but they were not finding their way through and just after they hour-mark they made an attacking change as Islam Slimani replaced Aimen Mahious for fresh legs up top.
Al Ahly hardly threatened going forward and with 12 minutes to go also introduced the fresh legs of Akram Tawfik and Mohamed Magdi Kafsha, in attack and midfield respectively.
However, CRB continued to pressurize the Egyptian giants in the dying minutes and Naoufel Khacef finally broke the deadlock in added time with a strike from a rebound after El Shenawy saved Hedy Chaabi's shot in the box.
Belouizdad moved up to second in Group C, one point behind The Red Devils and one point ahead of third-placed Orlando Pirates, who are in action against bottom side Stade d'Abidjan on Saturday evening at Orlando Stadium.
