Mahmoud Al-Khatib, Chairperson of Al Ahly SC, decided to renew the contract of the football team’s head coach Pitso Mosimane until 2024.
The negotiations to keep the highly successful South African coach lasted for months, which created a state of controversy in the local and African media and among Al Ahly fans.
The contract extension followed Al Ahly’s impressive winning of bronze for a second successive time at the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar last month, beating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 4-0 in the playoff match.
Al Ahly announced on their website and social media platforms: “Al Ahly SC are delighted to announce that Pitso Mosimane has signed a contract extension with the club for two more years.
“The coach and his assistants signed the new contract, ensuring they will remain at the helm until 2024.”
The announcement came only hours after Al Ahly had beaten their closest competitors for the Egyptian Premier League 3-0, and before the team’s long flight to South Africa on Wednesday for their CAF Champions League Group A clash against Mosimane’s former team Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Mosimane has won five trophies since his momentous move from Sundowns to the Red Devils in September 2020; back-to-back CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup titles, and the 2019-20 Egypt Cup.
The renewal decision aims to preserve the team’s stability and give a boost to the players before the Saturday clash.
Mosimane said during the post-match press conference: “It was important for Al Ahly to win against Pyramids, especially as it is the only team that I have not defeated since I took over the leadership of the team.”
