An Al Ahly star has now explained the effect the 5-0 thrashing Mamelodi Sundowns gave them in 2019 has had on the club.
The two African powerhouses clashed in the quarter-finals of the 2018/19 CAF Champions League campaign, and although the Red Devils won the second leg by a goal to nil, that was not enough for them to go to the next round after they were beaten 5-0 by Masandawana in the first leg.
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Themba Zwane, Wayne Arendse, Ricardo Nascimento, Gaston Sirino and Phakamani Mahlambi all got on the scoresheet to mark one of the most forgettable days in the Egyptian giants' history.
However, according to midfielder Karim Walid, the defeat was also significant because it marked the beginning of a remarkable era for the club.
"I thank the Board of Directors for being patient with the current generation after losing by five to Sundowns and supporting them until they reached the current stage of achievements," he told the club's television channel Al Ahly TV, per FilGoal.
"This match changed Al Ahly's history and was the real beginning for this generation of players."
Following that humbling defeat, the Red Devils have gone on to win an astonishing four CAFCL titles and two CAF Super Cups in the past five seasons.
They have also won the Egyptian Premier League twice in that period, solidifying themselves as one of the continent's most dominant sides.
Walid, who is commonly known by his nickname of "Nedved", went on to emphasise the importance of winning another Super Cup given that this year's winners of the CAF Confederation Cup are their very own Egyptian rivals Zamalek.
He also, however, highlighted where the side's immediate focus needs to be placed.
"The African Super Cup match against Zamalek is very important, but its date has not been determined yet," he continued.
"We must now focus on the league competition, especially in light of the intense competition with Pyramids."
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