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4 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.
Al-Ahram Weekly
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Preview: Ahly eye extending historic dominance over Zamalek in Cairo derby - Egyptian Football
Egyptian powerhouse Ahly are gearing up to lock horns with Zamalek in the 15th matchday of the Egyptian Premier League at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, with the Red Devils aiming to reclaim the league's top spot and cement their dominance over their archrivals. The defending champions enter the game intent on reclaiming first place in the league standings, sitting second with 32 points—just one point behind leaders Pyramids FC, who face Talae El-Geish on Sunday. A victory is crucial for Ahly to keep pace at the top and sustain their title charge this season. On Saturday, Ahly, established in 1907, will also be looking to extend its historical dominance over Zamalek, established in 1911. Out of 253 encounters across all competitions over the decades, the Red Devils have emerged victorious in 110 games, with Zamalek winning only 61 times and 82 matches ending in draws. More recently, the Red Devils beat the White Knights to claim the Egyptian Super Cup in October 2024 after the White Knights defeated the Red Devils to claim the CAF Super Cup a few weeks earlier. The Red Devils have been in excellent form this season under Swiss coach Marcel Koller, securing nine wins and three draws, boasting the league's most potent attack - with 26 goals scored - and one of the tightest defences, conceding only eight goals. Ahly head into the match on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Ismaily last Sunday, extending their unbeaten run to four games. The victory was further boosted by the return of Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali and Moroccan defender Achraf Dari, who made substitute appearances after lengthy injury layoffs. However, the win was marred by an injury to midfielder Mohamed 'Afsha' Magdi, forcing the playmaker to miss Saturday's derby. This setback adds to an already growing injury list that includes Moroccan left-back Yahia Attiat-Allah, defender Yasser Ibrahim, Reda Slim, Karim Fouad, Ali Maaloul, winger Taher Mohamed Taher and defender Omar Kamal, piling further pressure on 64-year-old Koller. However, the match could also mark the debut of Ahly's Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki, a January signing and former Zamalek player, who has been named in the squad list. The 30-year-old winger joined the Cairo giants on a two-and-a-half-year deal during the winter transfer window from Qatari side Al-Rayyan. On the other hand, Zamalek enter the game on the back of a 1–1 draw against Petrojet, a match that underscored the team's struggles in recent seasons. The White Knights, currently third in the league table with 27 points, will be eager to secure a win to narrow the gap on their rivals and reinvigorate their own title aspirations. However, in his second game in charge, Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro faces selection headaches with key players unavailable. Defender Hamza Mathlouthi, winter signing midfielder Mahmoud Gehad, defender Ahmed Fatouh, Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razik, and Ahmed Hamdi will miss the game through injury, while Nasser Maher serves a suspension. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
