Egypt’s Al Ahly on Saturday night defended the CAF Champions League Cup beating Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Kaizer Chiefs’ dream for going for gold crumbled in the first half after Happy Mashiane was given a red card.
The immaturity of Mashiane was exposed just before halftime when he made a reckless tackle in the middle of the park.
There was no need for Mashiane to make such a dangerous tackle. On review, VAR changed the card from yellow to red.
Even as the first half came to a close without a goal, the red card strengthened the Red Devils.
Down to 10 men Kaizer Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter, brought on mercurial striker Khama Billiat at the start of the second half.
Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly turned on the pressure.
It took just seven minutes for Al Ahly to find the back of the Amakhosi net.
Striker Mohamed Sherif ran in behind two chiefs defenders and slipped the ball past a diving Daniel Akpeyi.
On the hour mark, Baxter took Njabulo Blom off and brought on Kenyan Akumu Agay.
It was a complete disarray after that for Amakhosi at the back.
The Red Devils turned Eric Mathoho and Reeve Frosler inside out before Mohamed Magdy found the top corner of Akpeyi’s net.
With the game wrapped up with 25 minutes to go, Mosimane brought on Malian Aliou Dieng in the midfield.
The Malian pulled the passes in such a way it was obvious Chiefs were one man short.
In the 74th minute, Al Ahly put Chiefs to the sword – Amr El Solia beat Akpeyi with a curling shot to make 3-0.
Mosimane becomes the most successful African manager in the tournament’s history, claiming the trophy for the third time, having won it with Sundowns and twice with the Red Devils.
Mosimane’s former boss at Mamelodi Sundowns Patrice Motsepe, the CAF president, was in the terraces.
Motsepe did the honours of handing out the medals and the cup in Morocco.
Amakhosi take home runner’s up silver medals and a cool R18 million plus prize.
