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The Jingles charges had to redouble their efforts after the Red Devils were reduced to 10 players in the first half at the Cairo International Stadium.
Pitso Mosimane extended his undefeated start to life as Al Ahly manager to three games when they drew 0-0 with Pyramids in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday.
South African tactician Cavin Johnson’s assistant and compatriot sat on the Al Ahly bench for the first time.
The pyramids were expected to present Mosimane with his biggest challenge since he took over the reins of the Red Devils earlier this month.
Al Ahly’s opponents were previously known as Al Assiouty Sport before the president of the Saudi Sports Authority, Turki Al Sheikh, took over the club in May 2018 and renamed it Pyramids.
The Red Devils came into the game having won just one of their last five matches against the big spenders of the Egyptian Premier League in all competitions.
Al Ahly were confident in their great form, as they were undefeated in their last 12 competitive matches and also enjoyed a five-match winning streak.
The team did not have Marwan Mohsen, who scored a double in the previous match against ENPPI in the middle of the week, and Mosimane replaced him with Mahmoud Kahraba.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach also called Amr Al Sulaya to the starting lineup after he was relegated to the bench when Al Ahly thrashed ENPPI 3-0.
However, Mosimane’s team suffered two blows in the first half when Kahraba was injured and was replaced by the imposing Senegalese center forward Aliou Badji.
Al Sulaya was then given a direct red card and the Red Devils were reduced to 10 players and the hosts had to redouble their efforts.
Despite being outnumbered, Al Ahly continued to attack as they sought to break the deadlock and were awarded a penalty at the halftime hit.
However, Mohamed Magdy Afsha was turned down by Pyramids goalkeeper Al Mahdi Soliman and the two teams closed 0-0 in the interval.
Mosimane made a tactical change early in the second half by retiring Badji and introduced midfielder Ahmed El Sheikh as he filled his midfield.
Al Ahly were able to hold off Pyramids until the match referee blew the final whistle and the two teams shared the spoils after a 0-0 draw.
The Red Devils, who have already won the Egyptian Premier League title, have now turned their attention to their Caf Champions League semi-final tie with Wydad Casablanca.
The first leg will take place at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco on Saturday, October 17, and the second leg is scheduled to be played in Cairo on Friday, October 23.
