After Al Ahly were held to a goalless draw by Orlando Pirates, a former player has highlighted a critical error that may have cost the Egyptian giants a chance at victory.
The two teams faced off in a CAF Champions League group stage clash on Saturday, but neither could break the deadlock, with the match ending 0–0 after 90 minutes.
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Despite the stalemate, both the Red Devils and the Buccaneers remain in strong positions, occupying the top two spots in Group C after securing wins in their respective opening matches.
Al Ahly manager Marcel Koller waited until the 60th minute to make his first substitutions, introducing Percy Tau and Mohamed Magdy in place of Wessam Abou Ali and Emam Ashour.
The Swiss coach made his final change in the 83rd minute, replacing Reda Slim with Hussein El Shahat in a last-ditch effort to secure a winner.
However, former Al Ahly star Ahmad Belal believes the match could have taken a different turn if Koller had acted sooner.
"Orlando is one of the teams that are good at playing football, and Al Ahly was able to decide the match in the second half," Belal said per El Osboa.
"I advise Koller to divide the match into two halves, and there is no need to wait until the 75th minute to make changes.
"Koller's changes were late, and Al Ahly was unable to take possession and control the game, in order to organise attacks and score a goal.
"I do not think that the coach was thinking about the Intercontinental match."
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The Red Devils will now aim to return to winning ways when they face Khanyisa Mayo's CR Belouizdad in their next CAF CL fixture scheduled for Sunday 22 December.