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The 56-year-old strategist has become the first coach to win Africa’s most prestigious club trophy with the Red Devils since 2013
Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly were crowned the 2019/20 Caf Champions League champion after defeating Zamalek 2-1 in the final at Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.
The Red Devils’ two goals were scored by Amr El Sulaya and Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdi, while Mahmoud Shikabala scored the tying goal in the first half for the White Knights.
Mosimane hoped to become the eighth coach to win more than one Caf Champions League title after claiming his first trophy during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016.
The South African tactician called Amr El Sulaya to the starting lineup after the influential midfielder rested when the Red Devils defeated Abu Qair Semad 2-1 in the Egyptian Cup match last weekend.
Mahmoud Abdelrazek Hassan Fadlala, who was part of the last Zamalek team to win the Champions League title in 2002, was a starter for the White Knights.
Better known as Shikabala, Fadlala was also a key member of the White Knights team that was defeated by the Mosimane Sundowns in the 2016 final.
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The Red Devils got off to a dream start when they grabbed an early goal through El Sulaya after the White Knights defense caught the ball looking.
Ali Maaloul, who was also called up to the starting lineup by Mosimane, launched a well-executed corner kick that El Sulaya headed in to make it 1-0 to Al Ahly in the fifth minute.
Zamalek turned to Shikabala for inspiration and the veteran winger forced Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy to make a comfortable save as the White Knights looked to level things out.
The parity recovered in the 31st minute when Shikabala beat two defenders, before unleashing a powerful effort that edged El Shenawy to make it 1-1.
Both teams then launched attacks in search of more goals, but could not find the back of the net and the score was 1-1 during the halftime break.
Zamalek continued to pressure Al Ahly after the restart with Ahmed Sayed Zizo hitting the wood and Mosimane decided to make a change in the 67th minute.
Geraldo, who is a winger by trade, replaced Nigerian international Junior Ajayi when the Red Devils sought to take control of the game and restore their advantage.
Then the Red Devils picked up the pace and scored a late game-winner when Magdi volleyed in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Zamalek on the night.
As a result, Al Ahly clinched a record-setting ninth Champions League title and their first since 2013, while Zamalek lost their second final since 2016.
Mosimane has joined Stefan Zwytoko, Boubacar Fofana, Mahmoud El-Gohary, Oscar Fullone, Céleste Tambwe Late, Mouine Chabaane and Manuel José as the only coaches to have won more than one Caf Champions League title since the competition began. in 1964.
He is also only the third coach to win it with two different teams.
