logo
Pyramids aim to make Egypt first nation with four CAF Champions League titles

Pyramids aim to make Egypt first nation with four CAF Champions League titles

CAF2 days ago

Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025
Egypt could become the first country in African football history to have four different clubs crowned continental champions, as Pyramids FC prepare for a decisive second-leg showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The Cairo-based side will host the South African giants on Sunday at the Air Defense Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time.
The tie is finely balanced at 1-1 after the first leg in Pretoria, where Walid El Karti's dramatic stoppage-time header salvaged a draw for the Egyptians following Lucas Ribeiro's opener for Sundowns.
A goalless draw or any win at home would be enough to hand Pyramids FC their first-ever CAF Champions League title — and in doing so, etch their name alongside Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily.
No other nation has ever had four separate clubs lift the coveted African title.
If Pyramids triumph, Egypt will achieve this unprecedented feat, further underlining the country's dominance in the history of club football on the continent.
In the modern Champions League era — which began in 1997 — Egypt already leads with Al Ahly's record 11 titles and Zamalek's five.
Pyramids' victory would see Egypt become the only country to have produced three different winners in this era, overtaking countries like Morocco and DR Congo.
For Pyramids FC, a club with significant investment but still seeking major silverware, the stakes are monumental.
After years of chasing domestic and continental success, the Sky Blues now stand one match away from a historic breakthrough.
Victory would not only validate their project but also signal the rise of a new powerhouse in African football.
Their opponents, Sundowns, are no strangers to the big stage, having won the title in 2016 and reached the latter stages in recent years.
But with momentum from the first leg and history within reach, the Pyramids camp is brimming with belief ahead of Sunday night's decider.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pyramids beat Sundowns to win first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title
Pyramids beat Sundowns to win first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title

CAF

timea day ago

  • CAF

Pyramids beat Sundowns to win first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title

Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC clinched their maiden TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title with a 2-1 victory over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in a pulsating second leg final at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo. Having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Pretoria, the Egyptian side secured a 3-2 aggregate win, becoming the fourth different club from Egypt to win Africa's most prestigious club competition—joining Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily in a feat unmatched by any other nation. Pyramids began with purpose in front of a passionate home crowd, taking the lead in the 23rd minute through their prolific striker Fiston Mayele, who rifled a low shot into the far corner after a clever move on the right side. The goal marked his ninth in the competition and confirmed his status as one of the key figures in Pyramids' historic run. The home side doubled their lead shortly after the restart when defender Ahmed Samy rose highest to head home from a Mohamed Chibi cross in the 56th minute, sending the Cairo crowd into a frenzy. Despite trailing by two goals, Sundowns showed resilience. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back for the South African champions in the 75th minute with a composed finish from close range, setting up a tense finale. Miguel Cardoso's side pushed forward relentlessly in the final minutes, with Peter Shalulile and Lebo Mothiba both having efforts blocked in a frantic closing stretch that saw 10 minutes of added time. However, Pyramids held firm, thanks in large part to the heroics of goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy and a composed defensive performance. The result marks the first time Pyramids have lifted the continental trophy, a decade after the club's founding. It also ensures Egypt maintains its hold on African football's crown for a third consecutive year following Al Ahly's triumphs in 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, it was a night of heartbreak for Sundowns, who were seeking their second CAF title and aiming to become the first side since Al Ahly in 2012 to win after failing to secure a home-leg advantage in the final. Instead, the Brazilians suffer their second defeat in a Champions League final, 24 years after losing to Al Ahly in 2001.

Pyramids coach Jurcic writes his name in African football history
Pyramids coach Jurcic writes his name in African football history

CAF

timea day ago

  • CAF

Pyramids coach Jurcic writes his name in African football history

Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC etched their name into African football history on Sunday night, defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Cairo to lift their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title and hand coach Krunoslav Jurcic a landmark personal triumph. The Egyptian club completed a 3-2 aggregate victory over the South African giants, adding their name to a distinguished list of champions and becoming Egypt's fourth club — after Al Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily — to win the coveted continental title. Goals from Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Samy in each half gave Pyramids a strong 2-0 lead in the second leg at the Air Defense Stadium, following the 1-1 draw in Pretoria a week earlier. Although Iqraam Rayners pulled one back late on for Sundowns with a composed finish from the centre of the box, it wasn't enough to derail the Egyptian side's determined charge to glory. For Jurcic, the result is historic. The Croatian becomes the first from his country to win the CAF Champions League — a feat that places him alongside legendary European tacticians who have left their mark on African football, echoing the achievements of Yugoslavians Ivan Ridanovic and Branko Zutic in the 1970s and '80s. Having reached the CAF Confederation Cup final last season, Pyramids have now gone one better, capping years of heavy investment with the ultimate prize on the continent. The result also confirms Egypt's unmatched dominance in African club football, with four different teams now continental champions — an unprecedented feat. Speaking before the final, Jurcic had urged the entire Egyptian football fraternity to back the club's quest: 'We will play our usual way, and we call on the Egyptian fans to support us for the sake of football in the country, not just for Pyramids.' The win not only rewards that belief but firmly establishes Pyramids as a new force in African football. With veterans like Walid El Karti, Sherif Ekramy, and Ramadan Sobhi forming the spine of the squad, Pyramids' moment in the spotlight has finally arrived — with Jurcic leading from the front.

Pyramids to face Berkane in CAF Super Cup after historic Champions League win
Pyramids to face Berkane in CAF Super Cup after historic Champions League win

CAF

timea day ago

  • CAF

Pyramids to face Berkane in CAF Super Cup after historic Champions League win

Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Newly crowned TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC will take on Morocco's RS Berkane in the upcoming CAF Super Cup, following their dramatic 2-1 second-leg victory over Mamelodi Sundowns to secure their first continental title. The date and venue of the CAF Super Cup fixture will be announced by CAF in the coming days, but the match is already building up as a clash of champions. Pyramids will represent the Champions League, while Berkane booked their place after winning the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup. The fixture will be a reunion of sorts, as Pyramids lost to Berkane in the 2020 Confederation Cup final—a result they will be eager to avenge. This time, however, they return as Champions League winners after a convincing campaign capped by a 3-2 aggregate win over South African giants Sundowns in the final. Goals from Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Samy at Cairo's 30 June Stadium secured the title for the Egyptian club, who have now joined Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily as Egypt's continental champions. Their victory also ensured that Egypt remains dominant in African club football, winning the CAF Champions League for the third consecutive season. The Super Cup presents another opportunity for Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić to add silverware to his growing legacy at the club. Having already won the Egypt Cup, Jurčić made history by becoming the first Croatian coach to lift the CAF Champions League title. He now eyes further success against a well-organised Berkane side renowned for their continental pedigree. In addition to the Super Cup, Pyramids have also qualified for the Intercontinental Cup in 2025, where they will join New Zealand's Auckland City and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahly. That global competition will bring together the champions from different confederations, offering another prestigious stage for the Egyptian side. Furthermore, Pyramids have sealed a spot in the expanded 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature 32 of the world's best club sides. Their qualification confirms Pyramids' arrival on the global stage, just a decade after the club's establishment. From domestic contenders to continental champions, Pyramids FC now look set to test themselves against the best clubs from around the world.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store