Percy Tau fired Al Ahly to victory in their first 2024/25 CAF Champions League encounter, while Rulani Mokwena made his presence felt in the Moroccan top flight.
The 30-year-old was left out of the Bafana Bafana squad for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan earlier this month, with head coach Hugo Broos citing his uncertain situation at the Egyptian giants as part of the reason for leaving him out.
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The attacker has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils after it was claimed that manager Marcel Koller would allow the player to leave in order to make space for another foreign player to replace him.
However, the South African looked right at home as he netted a brace for the North African giants in the first game since the international break, helping them to a 3-0 victory over Kenyan outfit Gor Mahia in the first leg of their CAF CL second preliminary round tie.
Ramy Rabia gave the away side the lead in the 14th minute, with the reigning continental champions then doubling their lead through Tau just two minutes later, before he sealed the victory for his team in the second half.
Al Ahly will now head into the second leg set to be played on Saturday with a three-goal advantage.
Elsewhere on the continent, Mokwena bounced back from losing his first Botola Pro 1 game in charge of Wydad Athletic Club to see his charges beat MA Tetouan by a goal to nil on Saturday.
New signing Nassim Chadli converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time to hand the Red Castle their first three points of the 2024/25 league season.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns boss will be hoping for more of the same when his team take on Union Touarga Sportif away from home on Friday.
Meanwhile, Fagrie Lakay's Pyramids FC played out to a draw when they were held 1-1 by APR FC in Rwanda.
The South African was on the bench, but saw Fiston Mayele net in the 83rd to get his side back to level terms and salvage a draw before the second leg scheduled for Saturday.
Former Cape Town City striker Khanyisa Mayo was also in continental action over the weekend, coming off the bench to make his debut for Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad.
However, the forward was unable to save his side from a surprise 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their CAF CL second preliminary round encounter against Burkina Faso's AS Douanes.
The attacker will be hoping to have a greater impact when the sides clash once again on Friday.
Elias Mokwana was another South African who came off the bench for Tunisian side Esperance Sportive de Tunis as they beat CAF CL rivals Dekedaha FC by four goals to one in the first leg.
? 69' | #TotalEnergiesCAFCL Round of 32 #DSCEST | ????@Dekeddafc 1?-3? @ESTuniscom???? : ?? Substitute : E. Mokwana IN, H. Tka OUT (EST) / ????? / Changement pic.twitter.com/F8bUz38O0d
— Espérance de Tunis ???? ?????? ??????? (@ESTuniscom) September 15, 2024
The 25-year-old marked his appearance for the Blood and Goal with an assist, setting up Youssef Belaili, who scored twice in the tie, for their fourth goal of the game.
Doublé pour Youcef Belaïli, sur une assist de Elias Mokwana. L'Espérance prend le parage (4-1) durant le dernier quart d'heure ! #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/kQfMoB4riv
— ETTACHKILA (@EttachkilaTN) September 15, 2024
Simba SC, meanwhile, were away at Libyan side Al Ahli Tripoli, but Fadlu Davids' men could only manage a goalless draw, and will be hoping to pick up a victory when they take on the side once more in the return leg of their second preliminary round tie.
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