Pressure on Pitso Mosimane and African giants Al Ahly after surprise loss

Record nine-time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt face unexpectedly early pressure in the 2020/21 campaign when they host AS Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo this weekend.

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An away loss to surprise Group A pacesetters Simba SC of Tanzania has left Pitso Mosimane’s side third in the standings, two rounds into the group phase of the marquee African club competition.

Subsequently, under-fire coach Mosimane watched anxiously as Al Ahly snatched an unsatisfactory victory over lowly El Gaish in the Egyptian Premier League, which heightened criticism of his team.

Al Ahly trailed before snatching a stoppage-time win through a goal from Nigerian Junior Ajayi, one of five non-Egyptian Africans Mosimane considered for selection.

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TV analyst and former Al Ahly star Wael Gomaa slammed Mosimane after the loss in Dar es Salaam, particularly his “lack of courage in not choosing more attack-minded substitutes”.

“The only positive was bringing Mosimane and his players to their senses after the euphoria of finishing third at the Club World Cup.”

While Al Ahly host unpredictable AS Vita Club, Simba SC are away to Al Merrikh, a Sudanese side that have suffered successive three-goal hidings, in Group A’s other match this weekend.

Both matches will take place on Saturday, 6 March with the Al Merrikh v Simba SC clash kicking off at 15:00 SA time and Al Ahly v AS Vita Club at 21:00.

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