Al Ahly have confirmed a major development in Percy Tau's race to be fit for Saturday's CAF Champions League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Bafana Bafana star Tau has been sidelined since 27 January when he suffered a muscle injury in Al Ahly's 3-0 Egyptian League Cup loss to Smouha and was facing a race against time to be fit for this weekend's encounter against his former employers.
The former Masandawana star played no part in the club's 4-0 league win over El-Makkasa on Tuesday but it has now been revealed that he is closing in on a sensational return to action against the reigning DStv Premiership champions, along with other rested players.
"The coaching staff had to rest a number of players during El-Makkasa games, Ali Maaloul and Mohamed Abdelmoneim needed the time off the pitch," Al Ahly director of football Sayed Abdelhafiz revealed to Ahly TV h/t KingFut.
"We have four important games against Sundowns and Al-Merreikh in the Champions League, we need our players to be ready by then. Even the best players in the world are benched when the coaching staff decides it.
"We have the motive to go for the third consecutive CAF Champions League title, no one has ever done it before.
"Percy Tau is 95% per cent ready for Sundowns game. We decided to rest him in the El-Makkasa game to make sure he's fit for the Sundowns clash. On the other hand, Ayman Ashraf will probably not be able to participate, but Abdelmoneim and Maaloul are ready."