Al Ahly secured a 1-0 victory away to Simba SC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final on Friday night.
Percy Tau, who was rested during the international break, was named in the attack for Al Ahly, although attacking midfielder Emam Ashour missed out after picking up an injury while on duty with Egypt.
Al Ahly have not won on their last three visits to the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, registering two losses and a draw.
The visitors got off to the perfect start after opening the scoring as early as the fourth minute, with Ahmed Nabil Koka finding the back of the net.
Tau had a chance to get his name on the score-sheet midway through the first half after getting on the end of Ali Maaloul’s cross, but the South African guided his header wide of the target.
Simba went on the attack thereafter but were met by an inspired Mostafa Shobeir, with the Al Ahly goalkeeper producing some vital stops to keep the visitors in the lead.
Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller re-shuffled the pack after the hour mark, as Tau and Hussein El Shahat made way for Taher Mohamed and Reda Slim to bolster the midfield, as Simba upped the pressure.
Former Al Ahly winger Luís Miquissone did have a couple sights at goal in the closing stages, but he was unable to capitalise as the Egyptians held on for their first-ever win away to Simba.
