Pitso Mosimane has started the 2023/24 United Arab Emirates Pro League with a surprise defeat.
Mosimane joined Al Wahda FC ahead of the current campaign after helping to promote Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli back to the top flight ahead of the club’s massive spending spread this window.
The South African, meanwhile, who has claimed he still has been paid for his last six months by the Jeddah giants and has taken the case to FIFA, has moved on to the UAE.
On Friday, Al Wahda kicked off their 2023/24 campaign against Al Bataeh, who avoided relegation by just one point last season.
Mosimane’s side got off to a bad start, conceding after six minutes when Anatole Bertrand Bang scored the opener for the visitors.
But Joao Pedro equalised for the home from the penalty spot after 19 minutes, with the game heading level into the breaking.
Mosimane’s Al Wahda side dominated proceedings in the second half with former Everton and Napoli midfielder Allan the orchestrator of the side but they struggled to test goalkeeper Ibrahim Essa.
And when they eventually cut through the defence Suhail Al-Mansoori was guilty of missing an open goal from five yards out much to the dismay of the home supporters at the Al Nhayan Stadium.
Things got worse for Al Wahda, when Alvaro de Oliveira scored the second goal for the visitors against the run of play in the 85th minute.
It was just one of five shots from the visitors, while the homes side wasted 23 attempts to make it a league debut to forget for Mosimane.
