Pyramids beat Sundowns to win 1st CAF title
JOHANNESBURG: Pyramids of Egypt survived late pressure to beat Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa 2-1 in Cairo on Sunday and win the CAF Champions League for the first time.
Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids triumphed 3-2 on aggregate after the first leg was drawn 1-1 in Pretoria last weekend.
Fiston Mayele scored after 23 minutes and Ahmed Samy on 56 minutes for the Egyptian outfit before Iqraam Rayners reduced the arrears in the 75th minute.
Listless for much of the match, Sundowns pressed in the closing stages, but the second goal that would have given them overall victory on away goals proved elusive.
Pleas by Pyramids, who normally attract crowds of just a few thousand, for support led to their 30,000-seat stadium being about half full for the second leg.
Both clubs made one change to the first-leg starting line-ups last weekend in Pretoria, where Walid el Karti headed an added-time equaliser after Lucas Ribeiro gave Sundowns an early second half lead.
Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic, a former Croatia midfielder, dropped forward Ibrahim Adel, scorer of six goals en route to the final, and promoted ex-English Premier League forward Ramadan Sobhi.
Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso left out Brazilian forward Arthur Sales and gave a starting place to midfielder Jayden Adams.
Cardoso is only the second coach after Argentine Oscar Fullone to reach consecutive Champions League finals with different clubs.
Fullone, who died in 2017 aged 78, guided ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast in 1998 and Raja Casablanca of Morocco the following year to victory in finals of the premier African club competition.
MAYELE SCORES
Cardoso took Esperance of Tunisia to the 2024 final, which they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt with an own goal separating the sides.
A new Champions League trophy, unveiled before the first leg, was brought to the touchline at the 30 June Stadium by 48-year-old Nigerian legend and former Inter Milan and Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu.
On a warm, windy first day, both teams constantly surrendered possession cheaply before Pyramids took the lead when Mayele scored his ninth goal of the African campaign.
A cross by Ahmed Atef was partially cleared by Grant Kekana and Mayele pounced to slam a snap low shot across goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner of the net.
Tensions rose and the Somali referee yellow-carded Atef and Aubrey Modiba after the duo had an angry clash, leading with their heads.
Sundowns squandered a great chance in first half added time when Tashreeq Matthews broke through only to see his shot parried by the left leg of goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy.
It was the only time the Pretoria outfit threatened in the opening half despite having much more possession. Pyramids struck again when Mohamed Chibi placed a free kick into the goalmouth and central defender Samy headed powerfully into the net. It was the first goal for Samy in the 16-match Champions League campaign and he became the 19th Pyramids player to score in the competition this season.
Sundowns replied when a weak headed clearance offered Rayners a chance and he fired past El Shenawy from close range. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
21 hours ago
- Observer
Coach Inzaghi to leave Inter Milan
ROME: Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is leaving after four years by "mutual agreement", the club announced on Tuesday, as Italian media reported he was moving to Saudi Arabia. "The club and Simone Inzaghi are parting ways. This is the decision taken by mutual agreement," Inter said in a statement. Both Inter and Inzaghi said the decision had been made at a meeting involving the coach and club President Giuseppe Marotta on Tuesday afternoon. The parting came just days after Saturday's 5-0 thumping by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Talk had already been swirling about his exit, and last month Inzaghi played down rumours about a two-year deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal worth 50 million euros. Italian media said Tuesday this reported had been confirmed. Inzaghi took over Inter in 2021 and had a contract until 2026. The 49-year-old guided the club to one Serie A title — Inter's 20th — and two Italian Cups. He led the team to two Champions League finals in the past three seasons but lost both. On track to repeat the treble heroics of 2010 just a few weeks ago, Inter ended the season trophyless after falling away in each competition. In its statement, the club said Inzaghi's management was "characterised by great passion, accompanied by professionalism and dedication". His trophies had "brought the club back to the top of Italian and European football", it said. Marotta thanked him "for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in today's discussion, which led to the common decision to separate our paths". "Only when we have fought together to achieve success day by day, can we have a frank dialogue like the one that happened today," he said. In a separate statement, Inzaghi thanked the players, managers and staff, but most of all the fans, adding: "I will never forget you." — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Pyramids beat Sundowns to win 1st CAF title
JOHANNESBURG: Pyramids of Egypt survived late pressure to beat Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa 2-1 in Cairo on Sunday and win the CAF Champions League for the first time. Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids triumphed 3-2 on aggregate after the first leg was drawn 1-1 in Pretoria last weekend. Fiston Mayele scored after 23 minutes and Ahmed Samy on 56 minutes for the Egyptian outfit before Iqraam Rayners reduced the arrears in the 75th minute. Listless for much of the match, Sundowns pressed in the closing stages, but the second goal that would have given them overall victory on away goals proved elusive. Pleas by Pyramids, who normally attract crowds of just a few thousand, for support led to their 30,000-seat stadium being about half full for the second leg. Both clubs made one change to the first-leg starting line-ups last weekend in Pretoria, where Walid el Karti headed an added-time equaliser after Lucas Ribeiro gave Sundowns an early second half lead. Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic, a former Croatia midfielder, dropped forward Ibrahim Adel, scorer of six goals en route to the final, and promoted ex-English Premier League forward Ramadan Sobhi. Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso left out Brazilian forward Arthur Sales and gave a starting place to midfielder Jayden Adams. Cardoso is only the second coach after Argentine Oscar Fullone to reach consecutive Champions League finals with different clubs. Fullone, who died in 2017 aged 78, guided ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast in 1998 and Raja Casablanca of Morocco the following year to victory in finals of the premier African club competition. MAYELE SCORES Cardoso took Esperance of Tunisia to the 2024 final, which they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt with an own goal separating the sides. A new Champions League trophy, unveiled before the first leg, was brought to the touchline at the 30 June Stadium by 48-year-old Nigerian legend and former Inter Milan and Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu. On a warm, windy first day, both teams constantly surrendered possession cheaply before Pyramids took the lead when Mayele scored his ninth goal of the African campaign. A cross by Ahmed Atef was partially cleared by Grant Kekana and Mayele pounced to slam a snap low shot across goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner of the net. Tensions rose and the Somali referee yellow-carded Atef and Aubrey Modiba after the duo had an angry clash, leading with their heads. Sundowns squandered a great chance in first half added time when Tashreeq Matthews broke through only to see his shot parried by the left leg of goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy. It was the only time the Pretoria outfit threatened in the opening half despite having much more possession. Pyramids struck again when Mohamed Chibi placed a free kick into the goalmouth and central defender Samy headed powerfully into the net. It was the first goal for Samy in the 16-match Champions League campaign and he became the 19th Pyramids player to score in the competition this season. Sundowns replied when a weak headed clearance offered Rayners a chance and he fired past El Shenawy from close range. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Griezmann to stay with Atletico Madrid until 2027
MADRID: France's 2018 World Cup winning forward Antoine Griezmann has extended his Atletico Madrid contract until 2027, the Spanish club announced on Monday. "Griezmann and Atletico have reached a deal to renew the French footballer's contract until June 30, 2027," said Atletico in a statement. Griezmann, 34, is Atletico's all-time top scorer with 197 goals over two spells at the club and his previous deal was due to run until 2026. The veteran forward has struggled for form in 2025, last finding the net in February as his team finished third in La Liga, ending the season trophyless. Griezmann, who scored in France's 2018 World Cup win over Croatia, signed for Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014. The striker, who retired from international football last year, won the Europa League in 2018 and twice finished a Champions League runner-up with Atletico, before joining Barcelona in 2019. Griezmann struggled with the Catalan giants, winning only a Copa del Rey before returning to Atletico on loan in 2021, eventually making the switch permanent. Atletico and Griezmann will compete at the Club World Cup this summer in the United States, with their first match against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on June 15. — AFP
