Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has bemoaned the missed opportunities by his side in their 2-2 draw against AS Vita in CAF Champions League clash on Saturday.
The African champions lacked sharpness upfront in their Group A game played at Cairo International Stadium with Makabi Lilepo proving to a threat for the hosts right from the start.
The DR Congo international would go on to open the scoring when he scored against the run of play four minutes before the break after a fine individual effort.
Al Ahly netted an equalizer courtesy of Mohamed Sherif on the 69 minutes and Marwan Mohsen put the Red Devils ahead two minutes later.
However, Vita drew level from the spot through Ricky Tulengi following foul committed El Soleya in the last 11 minutes of the match.
“We missed several scoring chances in today’s game, but this is football. I have full confidence in my players that they will win the next game. Our current situation is hard, but we have to deal with that,” Mosimane told reporters after the match.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We lost two points today due to missing a lot of scoring opportunities. It is very disappointing, but this is football.”[/perfectpullquote]
The two sides will meet again on Tuesday in a return leg match in Kinshasa where Al Ahly will need nothing but a win or leave Ahly’s qualification hopes from Group A in limbo.
“We will fight to defeat AS Vita Club in Congo in order to keep our chances to qualify to the next round. Today’s match was full of incidents, and I have never seen something like that. It was like a drama,” Mosimane added.
“I will support all the players after today’s draw. We need to defeat AS Vita Club at their home. Our players achieved many great things during the previous period, and they deserve our support.
“We still have three games and we will fight to win in order to reach the quarter-finals.”
Al Ahly are now tied on four points apiece with Vita in the group, with Congolese taking second spot while the Red Devils remain in third.
Simba of Tanzania, who stunned Ahly with a 1-0 win in the previous round, top the group with seven points from three matches while Sudan’s Al Merreikh lie at the bottom after collecting only one point.
