CAIRO : Egyptian giants Al Ahly will take a slender 2-1 lead over holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco into next weekend’s second leg of the African Champions League final after giving up a late goal in Sunday’s first leg in Cairo.
South African international Percy Tau headed Al Ahly into the lead on the stroke of halftime and Mahmoud Kahraba doubled the score in the 59th minute to put the hosts in a strong position.
Both goals were set up by Hussein El Shahat, who provided decisive passes to find Tau in the clear at the back past and fed Kahraba for a close-in finish.
But Wydad substitute Saifeddine Bouhra pulled one back in the 86th minute for what might turn out to be a vital away goal before the return game at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on next Sunday.
Wydad had also struck the woodwork through fullback Yahya Attiat-Allah in the second half and forced several key saves from Al Ahly’s third choice goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, thrust into the lineup because of an injury crisis at the club.
This year the Champions League final returned to a two-legged, home-and-away contest after the previous three editions were decided by a single match.
Last year Wydad beat Al Ahly 2-0 in the final which was controversially hosted in Casablanca after the Confederation of African Football said Morocco was the only bidder, Senegal having withdrawn their application.
Ahly failed in a bid to have that match postponed and moved to a neutral territory after their appeal to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport was turned down.
Al Ahly have won a record 10 Champions League titles while Wydad are aiming for a fourth.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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