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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
African Champions League title stays in Egypt after Pyramids beats Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns players react after losing the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Pyramids at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids Fiston Kalala Mayele, right, is challenged by Mamelodi Sundowns Mosa Spection Lebusa during the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids Ahmed Samy celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids players pose for a photo after winning the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids players celebrate with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids players celebrate with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Mamelodi Sundowns players react after losing the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Pyramids at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids Fiston Kalala Mayele, right, is challenged by Mamelodi Sundowns Mosa Spection Lebusa during the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids Ahmed Samy celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids players pose for a photo after winning the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) Pyramids players celebrate with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League final second leg soccer match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo) CAIRO (AP) — The African Champions League soccer title stayed in Egypt with Pyramids winning the final Sunday just seven years after the club was renamed and moved to Cairo. The president of African soccer's governing body Patrice Motsepe presented the trophy after watching the South African club he owns, Mamelodi Sundowns, lose the second leg in Cairo 2-1, giving Pyramids a 3-2 aggregate win. Advertisement Pyramids took a first-half lead with Congo forward Fiston Mayele's competition-best ninth goal. Defender Ahmed Samy added a second in the 56th minute for the team coached by Krunoslav Jurčić from Croatia. Iqraam Rayners cut the lead in the 75th and Pyramids survived pressure during 10 minutes of stoppage time added. Egypt now has a record 19 African club titles by four different teams. Al Ahly has 12, including the past two competitions, Zamalek has five and Ismaily one. Pyramids was rebranded and brought to the Egyptian capital in 2018 by Saudi sports executive Turki Al-Sheikh, who is now a key official in boxing. One year later the big-spending club's new owner was Salem Al-Shamsi, a businessman from the United Arab Emirates, who had been its vice president. Advertisement Pyramids' first African title earned a place at FIFA's Club World Cup in 2029. Sundowns, which won its only African title in 2016, qualified to play in the United States next month in the first 32-team edition of the FIFA tournament. The South African club was drawn in a group to play Ulsan in Orlando on June 17, then Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati and Fluminense in Miami. ___ AP soccer:
The Herald
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Sundowns unable to scale Pyramids, as Egyptian club crowned kings of Africa
From there, it was Sundowns' task to aim for an unanswered goal to take the tie to extra time and penalties, or two to win. They had an outstanding chance for that spurned by Tashreeq Matthews seconds before the break. Ahmed Samy made it 3-1 heading in a free-kick in the 56th, and Downs needed two unanswered goals to win. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back in the 75th. Downs could not find another, despite substitute Peter Shalulile coming excruciatingly close . In the opening half, Sundowns paid for being that minute margin loose that can be so costly at the rarefied level of a continental final and went behind from a defensive error. Had the bounce of the ball gone their way, the Brazilians could also have gone to the break level. A cleverly-worked free-kick from the middle by Downs saw Aubrey Modiba chip short into the path of Rayners, who took the ball over his shoulder and volleyed high. At the other end a half-clearance fell to Ahmed Atef on the edge of the box to strike well, but too close to Williams, who took easily.
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Sport
- CairoScene
Pyramids FC Wins African Champions League for the First Time
This victory marks Pyramids FC as the fourth Egyptian club to win Africa's premier club competition. Jun 01, 2025 Egypt's Pyramids FC have clinched their first CAF Champions League title, defeating South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns 2–1 in Cairo to secure a 3–2 aggregate victory. The final was held at the 30 June Stadium, with goals from Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Samy sealing the win. This victory marks Pyramids FC as the fourth Egyptian club to win Africa's premier club competition, joining the ranks of Al Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily. Founded in 2008, Pyramids FC has seen rapid growth following major investments since 2018, including backing from Emirati owner Salem Al Shamsi and earlier Saudi involvement. With a focus on private funding and high-profile signings, the club has positioned itself as one of the most financially ambitious teams in Egyptian football.
