Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller has insisted Ronwen Williams’ penalty save against Al Hilal is “not the reason” for the Egyptian giants’ qualification for this year’s CAF Champions League final.
The record champions were on the brink of a group-stage exit, and would’ve likely been eliminated had Ronwen Williams not saved a penalty in the 92nd minute of his side’s 1-1 at Al Hilal Omdurman.
A win would have on 12 points in Group B, which would have made it impossible for the Team of the Century to overtake them on the log.
However, after Ather El Tahir missed the spot-kick, Al Ahly were able to overtake the Sudanese giants on the final day of the group stages and have since eliminated Raja Casablanca and ES Tunis on their way to the final.
Despite the fateful penalty save of Williams, Koller has now insisted Al Ahly do not rely on other teams.
“I do not look to the opponent’s weak points, but only to the development of my team. We know how to win in any place amid any circumstances,” he said, as per Kingfut.
“The penalty kick missed by Al Hilal player Athar Al-Taher against Sundowns was not the reason for our qualification, it is not my fault if a player in a team misses a penalty kick.”
Al Ahly will now take on Wydad Athletic Club in the final after the latter eliminated Sundowns on the away-goal rule following their 2-2 draw on aggregate.
Al Ahly will host Wydad in Cairo on 4 June, before the second leg be played on 11 June in Casablanca. Last year, Wydad beat Al Ahly 2-0 in a one-legged final in Casablanca to then-coach deny Pitso Mosimane a hat-trick of successive CAF Champions League trophies.
Source Link Ahly Coach Dicusses Williams’ Pen Save Ahead Of CAFCL Final
