Pitso Mosimane and Al Ahly have qualified for the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League after drawing 2-2 with Al Merreikh, and could now face Mamelodi Sundowns in the next round.
The defending champions entered the game against the bottom-placed side in Group A as clear favourites but saw themselves trailing 2-0 at the interval after a poor first half.
Ramadan Agab gave the hosts the lead after 26 minutes before Saifeldin Maki made it 2-0 10 minutes later. Merreikh even could have been up 3-0 at the break, but Agab failed to complete his brace after missing a penalty just before half-time.
Mosimane reacted with two substitutes, bringing on Taher Mohamed and Walter Bwalya for Junior Ajayi and Marwan Mohsen. Al Ahly came out strong after the break but Merrikh goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa denied them an early goal.
Al Ahly eventually pulled one back after Badr Banoun converted a penalty in the 81st minute. Mosimane’s men even found a last-gasp equalizer after Yasser Ibrahim netted the 2-2 in the fourth minute of added time.
Meanwhile, Simba SC beat Vita Club 4-1 in the other group fixture, booking their spot in the knockout round.
Al Ahly\ moved to eight points, thus ensuring their spot in the last eight of the competition. They will qualify as a runners-up, meaning they could face Downs or any other group winner in the quarter-finals.
