Ex-Al Ahly star on Pitso: He Possessed A Ra…

(Photo: Gallo) Former Al Ahly star Walid Soliman explains why Pitso Mosimane was so successful in Egypt, revealing the South African’s obsession with the CAF Champions League.

Former Al Ahly star Walid Soliman has shared his experience of playing under Pitso Mosimane, praising the South African for his meticulous analysis, his ability to get the best out of players and the mentality he instilled at the Egyptian giants.

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The South African’s tenure as head coach stretched from October 2020 to June 2022.

During that period, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach enjoyed remarkable success, winning two CAF Champions League titles, two CAF Super Cups, the Egypt Cup and guiding Al Ahly to back-to-back FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals.

Champions League Was Always The Priority

According to Soliman, Mosimane’s greatest strength was his unwavering focus on continental success, with the CAF Champions League always taking precedence.

“Mosimane placed the CAF Champions League at the absolute top of his priorities, giving it far greater focus than the Egyptian Premier League. He approached continental competitions with an entirely different mindset,” Soliman said during his appearance on the Al-Ostoura Podcast.

“He cared about the big domestic matches, but his eyes were always on Africa because he knew exactly what that trophy meant to Al Ahly and its fans.”

That approach paid immediate dividends, with Mosimane winning the CAF Champions League final against rivals Zamalek, just weeks after his appointment, before retaining the title the following season with victory over Kaizer Chiefs.

Meticulous Preparation Behind The Scenes

Soliman also highlighted the level of tactical detail Mosimane demanded, revealing how thoroughly the coaching staff prepared for every opponent.

“He possessed an exceptional, rare knowledge of every single team and player on the African continent. He memorized the details of our opponents by heart.”

“He relied on an outstanding performance analysis department—analysts who would dissect the minute strengths and weaknesses of every team before we played them.”

The former winger added that Mosimane placed particular emphasis on set-pieces as a decisive weapon.

“He gave tactical preparation immense weight, especially regarding set-pieces. He would pinpoint very specific, exact scenarios where we could kill off games based on how the opponent moved and defended inside the penalty box.”

‘The Egyptian Mindset’

Soliman also revealed Mosimane’s admiration for the mentality of Egyptian footballers and his understanding of the immense pressure that comes with representing Al Ahly.

“Mosimane deeply believed that the Egyptian football player possesses the best competitive personality in Africa.”

“He always praised their fighting spirit and their stubborn refusal to lose, right up until the final whistle. He also fully understood the immense pressure cooker that is Al Ahly, where winning is a permanent requirement that can never be compromised.”

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