Bafana Bafana striker Percy Tau will be back on his old stomping ground when he travels to Pretoria to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the African Football League semifinal, first leg on Sunday, but he has not had a happy time of it against his former side.
It is the fifth time he has come up against The Brazilians since he left the club for Brighton & Hove Albion in England in 2018 and is yet to win.
Having come through the development and made his name at Sundowns, where he won the CAF Champions League in 2016, Tau has gone on be a top export for South Africa in the last few years. Here are his past meetings with Sundowns.
AL AHLY 0-1 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
February 26, 2022 – CAF Champions League Group A
Tau was brought on at halftime by his coach Pitso Mosimane, who he had worked with at Sundowns and is a mentor to the forward. He had a few bright moments, but it was Sundowns who won the day thanks to Thapelo Morena’s winner five minutes from the end. It was a first victory for The Brazilians against Ahly in Cairo.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 1-0 AL AHLY
March 12, 2022 – CAF Champions League Group A
Tau started at the FNB Stadium, where this fixture was played, but again it was Sundowns who ended up on top thanks to Peter Shalulile’s first half strike. Tau lasted just over an hour in the game but was unable to have a big influence on the contest.
AL AHLY 2-2 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
February 25, 2023 – CAF Champions League Group B
A see-saw battle that could have gone either way, Tau played the full 90 minutes but could not lead his side to victory. Sundowns led early through Shalulile, but Ahly turned the game on its head with goals from Mohamed Abdelmonem and Hussein El Shahat. But their nemesis Morena equalised with 10 minutes remaining to grab a point for Sundowns.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 5-2 AL AHLY
March 11, 2023 – CAF Champions League Group B
Sundowns ran rampant in this game in which Tau was easily the best player on the pitch for Ahly. The Brazilians were just too good and claimed a handsome win, but tau caught the eye as well with his scything runs and a superb goal. The pity for him was it ended in a thumping defeat.