Percy Tau roars in CAF Champions League final first-leg

Percy Tau continued his sparking form as he played a key role as Al Ahly edged Wydad Casablanca 2-1 in the CAF Champions League final first-leg on Sunday night.

The Bafana Bafana attacker, Tau played the full 90 minutes and got on the scoresheet at the Cairo International Stadium.

Tau, who joined Ahly from Premier League outfit Brighton two years ago, put in a good shift in Cairo. He opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, converting Hussein El Shahat’s cross into the net, much to the satisfaction of the Al Ahly fans.

Mahmoud Kahraba struck early in second half to make it 2-0 before Said Eddine Bouhra of Wydad scored with four minutes left to keep the tie alive heading into the return leg in Casablanca.

In an entertaining encounter, Tau netted his fifth goal of the 2023 Champions League campaign to add to his five assists. He looks to get his hands on the prestigious trophy once again.

PERCY TAU SHINES IN CAIRO

The 29-year-old won the Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 and returned to the final with coach Pitso Mosimane last year when Ahly lost to Wydad.

And the clash against holders Wydad in Cairo made Tau the first South African to participate in three Champions League finals.

Tau and Ahly will look to finish off the job in the second-leg on Sunday, 11 June 2023 at the Stade Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco.

In addition, Tau’s great form will make Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos a happy man. Broos named him in his 34-man preliminary squad for this month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Morocco.

Tau will likely make the cut when the Bafana squad is trimmed to 23 players for the game versus the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists. Bafana will face Morocco at FNB Stadium on Saturday; 17 June 2023.

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