Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau played a starring role as Al Ahly secured a 4-0 win over ES Setif in the first of their CAF Champions League semi-finals.
CAF Champions League
Result: Al Ahly 4-0 ES Setif
Date: 07 May 2022
Venue: WE Al-Ahly Stadium
Mosimane brought back the bulk of the regulars who were rested in their draw against Ceramica Cleopatra last weekend, including Percy Tau, Aliou Dieng, Hussein El Shahat and Ali Maaloul.
Al Ahly got off to a quick start after Taher Mohamed found the back of the net from a through ball by Dieng, but the goal was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside.
The Red Devils had gained attacking momentum, as they carved out chances and in the 21st minute Ahmed Abdelkader went close to breaking the deadlock with a strike from outside the box that came off the post.
Tau eventually put the hosts ahead on the half-hour mark with a glancing header in the six-yard box after a teasing cross by Taher Mohamed.
ES Setif, who had their backs against the wall, had a mountain to climb ten minutes before the halftime break after Amir Karaoui had a yellow card upgraded to red by the VAR, as the visitors went to the break a goal and a man down.
Al Ahly had the incentive of attacking in numbers in the early stages of the second stanza as they swamped the Algerian side,with Taher Mohamed doubling the lead ten minutes in with a header at the back post from a ricochet off a shot by Tau.
Mosimane kept ES Setif on their toes with a double change 22 minutes before time as Mohamed Sherif came on for Taher Mohamed upfront and Luis Miquissone replaced El Shahat in midfield.
The visitors struggled to deal with the guile of Tau in the second half, as the Bafana star setup the third goal by slipping a through ball for Sherif, who sent a first-time effort past goalkeeper Sofiana Khedairia at the near post.
ES Setif fluffed their only chance to at least get an away goal in the dying minutes and were punished in stoppage time as Tau made it 4-0 for Al Ahly with a tap-in at the near post after a square pass by Mohamed Hany.
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