CAF Champions League: Benni McCarthy’s Former Team Throws Away Big Advantage to Miss Out On All-South African Final

Drama was witnessed in the semi-final second legs on Friday when what looked like an all-South African final turned into something different.

Defending champions Al Ahly looked headed to a third straight final after Taher Mohamed had given them a 24th minute 1-0 lead that they protected until the 90th minute only to concede an equaliser via an own goal, allowing South African champions to advance on the away goals rule after a 1-1 aggregate score.

In the second semi-final, another South African side , where Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy played before he retired, appeared headed to a first final since 2013 after taking a 2-1 lead after 52 minutes, meaning their hosts needed to score twice to deny them a ticket to the final, but allowed Egyptian side Pyramids to win 3-2.

Benni McCarthy Harambee Stars assistant coach Moeneeb Josephs has slammed Orlando Pirates-linked coach Rhulani Mokwena.

Pirates were ahead after youngster Relebohile Mofokeng scored a stunning 41st minute volley but Congolese forward Fiston Mayele levelled for Pyramids on the stroke of halftime.

After the break, another young forward put Pirates ahead, 20-year-old Mohau Nkota firing home from outside the box in the 52nd minute, but veteran forward Ramadan Sobhi leveled just two minutes after coming on, and with Pirates still leading on the away goals rule, Mayele fired home from a corner six minutes from time to complete the comeback.

It sees big-spending Pyramids make it to their first-ever final, where they will meet , who are at this stage for the first time since 2016, when they won their only Champions League title

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has been in the news lately, being linked to the Orlando Pirates job as a potential Jose Riveiro successor.