Pitso Mosimane picked up a draw with Abha in his first official match against fourth placed Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League.
It was a tough first start at home for Mosimane. Al-Taawoun are 20 points ahead of Abha, and it took a good defensive performance to keep them at bay in a goalless first where the visitors dominated possession and chances.
And it was a similar pattern in the second half, as Al-Taawoun spearheaded by Musa Barrow, fresh from being at the AFCON with Gambia, continued to pile on the pressure.
A stoppage time own goal by Waleed Al Ahmad almost handed Mosimane the win, but Aschraf El Mahdiou found the equaliser three minutes later.
Abha remain without a win in nine league games, losing seven of those, and remains in 17th place on the log, four points away from safety.
Mosimane has been tasked to save the club from relegation after agreeing to a short-term contract until the end of the season. Abha are his second club in Saudi Arabia after he guided Al Ahli back into the Saudi Pro League but left the club shortly before playing in the top flight.
