Al Ahly and Zamalek played out to a thrilling 2-2 Cairo Derby draw in the Egyptian Premier League with Percy Tau returning to the starting eleven.
The South African whose future has come under major speculation since the exit of head coach Pitso Mosimane was said to have missed their previous game due to management offering the international player additional periods of rest following their duty for their respective countries.
And despite suffering a minor injury with Bafana Bafana in the 2-1 defeat to Morocco, Tau passed his fitness test and was thrown straight into the line-up, albeit with a largely anonymous display in the first half in which Ahly held a 1-0 lead thank to Mohamed Sherif’s 12th-minute strike.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion forward were then hauled off at the break for Hussein El-Shahat but the Derby sparked into life due to another player from the bench who took the pitch at the same time.
Captain and club legend Shikabala inspired an incredible fightback, first with a sumptuous delivery that Achraf Benharki headed home in the 68th minute and then to put them ahead eight minutes later with a tap-in from close range after a defensive mix-up from the home side.
However, the Ahlawy [ultras] faithful spurned the record ten-time African champions and another substitute come to the party as Salah Mohsen headed them back into the game to make it 2-2 with ten minutes remaining.
The result meant interim coach Samy Komsan, who’s taken charge since Mosimane’s sudden departure, failed to close the four-point gap between the league leaders and reigning champions but they still hold three games in hand over the White Knights.
