Out-of-favour South Africa winger Percy Tau scored twice as Al Ahly began their CAF Champions League title defence by hammering Gor Mahia of Kenya 3-0 in Nairobi on Sunday.
After Ramy Rabia had put the record 12-time African champions ahead on 14 minutes, Tau netted 60 seconds later and completed the rout after 74 minutes in a second round, first leg qualifier.
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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos omitted Tau from his squad for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan earlier this month.
The Belgian cited "uncertainty over the future of Tau" for his decision amid reports that the winger had clashed with Ahly coach Marcel Koller and could leave the Egyptian giants.
The teams meet again on Saturday in Cairo with Ahly seemingly destined for overall victory and a place in the 16-club group stage.
Ahly have claimed back-to-back Champions League titles and hope this season to become the first club to win the 61-year competition three times in a row.
By keeping Gor Mahia goalless, Ahly extended to 990 minutes the time they have played in the premier African club competition this season and last without conceding.
Tau's flying high ?? pic.twitter.com/4Odp0WyMNK
Gor thought they had scored in the closing stages from a Shariff Musa tap-in, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
King Tau was on fire ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/MLWF4I6b5h
Esperance of Tunisia, four times African champions and runners-up to Ahly last season, overcame a surprise half-time situation to beat Dekedaha of Somalia 4-1 in Rades near Tunis.
Brazilian Yan Sasse put Esperance ahead in the first half only for Oluwasen Adepoji to equalise for the African minnows just
soccer
CAF Champions League
Percy Tau
Bafana Bafana
Hugo Broos