By Michael Madyira
Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau cemented his status as South Africa’s most successful player in the CAF Champions League after winning the title for a third time on Saturday.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker played 67 minutes as Al Ahly edged Esperance 1-0 in the second leg of the final at Cairo International Stadium.
After the first leg ended 0-0 away in Rades, the Cairo giants won at home courtesy of an own goal by Esperance midfielder Roger Aholou.
It was the 12th Champions League crown for Al Ahly who won it again last season.
For Tau, it was his second with the Red Devils, having also previously helped Sundowns to the 2016 title under Pitso Mosimane.
With Mosimane having clinched the Champions League three times as a coach, Tau is the only South African player to have lifted it on three occasions.
It is a career milestone for the Bafana vice-captain, who still has a season left on his Al Ahly contract.
After Saturday’s triumph, the Egyptian side will take part in the newly-formed Fifa Intercontinental Cup scheduled for December.
They will also be at the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World Cup where they will be joined by Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca and Esperance as Africa’s representatives.
“It’s too early to talk about the Club World Cup,” Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller told the media after Saturday’s match.
“There are many leagues and tournaments before reaching it in 2025. When I arrive at the hotel today, the fans will demand a new trophy.
“I am hungry to achieve titles all the time. As a player, I won titles, and as a coach, I have as well. My ambition is to succeed even more.”
While Al Ahly are celebrating, Koller described Saturday’s final as “boring” after the two teams continued with their defensive approach, as also witnessed in the first leg.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana vice-captain Percy Tau with the CAF Champions League trophy alongside his Al Ahly Malian teammate Aliou Dieng.
Image source: Al Ahly
