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CAF
2 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Egypt makes history as fourth club lifts TotalEnergies CAF Champions League
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC were crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League for the first time on Sunday night after a commanding 2-1 victory over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo, securing a 3-2 aggregate win. In doing so, Pyramids became the fourth Egyptian club to lift Africa's most prestigious club trophy — joining the elite company of Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily — and making Egypt the first nation in African football history to produce four different continental champions. The Cairo-based side capitalised on their home advantage at the Air Defense Stadium with a focused and clinical performance that saw them dominate from start to finish. Having earned a dramatic 1-1 draw in the first leg in Pretoria — thanks to Walid El Karti's 95th-minute equaliser after Lucas Ribeiro Costa had given Sundowns the lead — Pyramids returned home knowing that any win would secure their maiden title. They wasted little time. In the first half, Fiston Mayele, leading the line with composure, broke the deadlock with a precise finish after a well-worked move that sliced open Sundowns' defence. In the second half, defender Ahmed Samy put the result beyond doubt, rising highest to head home the second goal — triggering jubilant celebrations in the Egyptian capital. 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. 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. For head coach Krunoslav Jurisic, the triumph marks a crowning moment after guiding the club through a difficult route to the final. Following the first leg, Jurisic had praised his side's character, declaring that they were 'fighting alone' without much domestic support — a narrative now overturned by continental glory. Pyramids' journey to the final was one built on resilience, tactical discipline, and timely goals — a stark reminder that they are no longer outsiders in African football, but a new continental powerhouse. Sundowns, despite dominating large stretches of the first leg and possessing the pedigree of 2016 champions, were undone by their missed chances and lapses in concentration across both legs. With the trophy lifted in Cairo, Egypt now boasts 19 total CAF Champions League titles, and Pyramids FC — once viewed as an ambitious project — have earned their place among the continent's elite.
CAF
27-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
MATCH FACTS: Pyramids, Sundowns primed for second leg of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final
Pyramids FC from Egypt will host Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024–25 Final on Sunday, 1 June at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo (kick-off 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT). This will be the 61st final across both eras of the tournament and the 29th since the rebranding to the Champions League in 1997. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg on 24 May at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, where Lucas Ribeiro Costa gave Sundowns the lead in the 54th minute before Walid El Karti equalized in stoppage time for Pyramids. Pyramids will be crowned champions with a win or a 0-0 draw. Sundowns will lift the trophy with a win or a draw of 2-2 or higher. A 1-1 result will take the tie to penalties. This is the fourth meeting between the two clubs. They also faced each other in the 2023/24 group stage, drawing 0-0 in Pretoria before Sundowns won 1-0 in Cairo thanks to a goal by Teboho Mokoena. Sundowns topped Group A while Pyramids finished bottom. Pyramids are hosting a South African club in the Champions League for the third time, having previously beaten Orlando Pirates 3-2 in this season's semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg in Johannesburg. Historically, this will be the fifth Champions League final between Egyptian and South African clubs. Egyptian sides have won three of the previous four. The first Egypt–South Africa final came in 2001, when Al Ahly defeated Sundowns 4-1 on aggregate. In 2013, Al Ahly again triumphed over a South African side, beating Orlando Pirates 3-1 over two legs. Sundowns are the only South African team to win a Champions League final tie against Egyptian opposition, beating Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in 2016. The most recent meeting before this season was Al Ahly's 3-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the 2020/21 final. South African teams have never overcome a draw at home in the first leg against Egyptian opposition. Both Sundowns in 2001 and Pirates in 2013 drew their home legs against Al Ahly and went on to lose the away leg. In four two-legged finals where a South African club failed to win the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been achieved – Pirates in 1995 drew 2-2 at home with ASEC Mimosas before winning 1-0 away. Egyptian clubs have won all three previous home games against South African sides in Champions League finals. Overall, Egyptian and South African clubs have clashed in eight Champions League final matches (including two-legged ties), with Egypt claiming four wins, South Africa one, and three draws. Pyramids are bidding to become Egypt's fourth different winner in the tournament's history, following Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. That would make Egypt the first country to have four different winners of the competition. Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia currently each have three. In the Champions League era alone, a win for Pyramids would give Egypt three different winners – more than any other country. Ten previous finals have been decided on penalties, most recently in 2004 when Enyimba beat Etoile Sahel. In the Champions League era, penalty shootouts settled three finals: Raja CA in 1997 and 1999, and Enyimba in 2004. Egyptian clubs have twice won finals on penalties, both by Zamalek in 1993 and 1996. A South African club has never contested a final that went to penalties. PYRAMIDS FACTS · Pyramids are aiming to become the first new winner of the tournament since Sundowns in 2016, the 13th different champion in the Champions League era, and the 27th overall. · Their appearance marks the 19th time an Egyptian club features in a Champions League-era final, with previous clubs claiming 11 titles (Al Ahly 10, Zamalek 1). · Including both eras, this is the 29th final involving an Egyptian club, with a record of 18 wins and 10 losses. · Pyramids have played just one of their last nine matches at home – a 3-2 win over Pirates in April. All five of their May fixtures were away (W2 D1 L2). Despite the travel, they are unbeaten in their last 23 home games this season (W19 D4), and in their last 28 overall (W24 D4), dating back to a 1-0 loss to Al Ahly in July 2024. That is their only home defeat in 43 matches. · Pyramids have scored in 22 of their 23 home games this season in all competitions, with the only blank a 0-0 draw against Al Masry. · In the Champions League this season, they've won all seven home games, scoring 26 and conceding six, keeping just one clean sheet (6-0 vs. Djoliba). Across their two participations in the competition, they've lost only one of 11 home games – against Sundowns last season – and drawn one other (2-2 vs. Nouadhibhou). They've scored in 10 of those 11 matches. · Fiston Mayele leads Pyramids in scoring this season with eight goals from 12 appearances, including five since the group stage. Ibrahim Adel follows with six goals, also five from the group stage onward. · Ramadan Sobhi has provided five assists in nine appearances, joint-most in the competition alongside Abderrahmane Meziane of CR Belouizdad. Sobhi has seven total goal contributions, including two goals, all from the group stage onward. He has come off the bench twice with immediate impact – assisting a 90th-minute equalizer against Esperance in the group stage, and scoring a minute after coming on against Pirates in the semi-final second leg. · Askary Chibi has created 20 chances from the group stage onward, the most of any Pyramids player. While they've kept just three clean sheets this campaign – all away – Pyramids remain formidable at home. · Walid El Karti's goal in the first leg was his second in 11 appearances this season. Mohanad Lasheen, who assisted El Karti, has two assists in the campaign. MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FACTS · Mamelodi Sundowns are competing in their third Champions League final, after appearances in 2001 and 2016. · They are the first South African club to reach three finals, surpassing Orlando Pirates' two (1995, 2013). In all three appearances, Sundowns hosted the first leg. In 2001, they drew 1-1 with Al Ahly and lost 2-0 away. · In 2016, they beat Zamalek 3-0 at home but lost 1-0 away – winning 3-1 on aggregate. · Sundowns have never scored in an away leg of a Champions League final, conceding five goals across the two previous second legs. The first leg of this final marked the second time they led at home and failed to win, as also happened in 2001. · A loss would make Sundowns the first South African team to lose two Champions League finals. · However, they are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Egyptian clubs (W4 D6), and have not lost in their last four visits to Egypt (W2 D2). · They are also undefeated in their last nine games across all competitions (W6 D3), with their last defeat coming against Kaizer Chiefs in a domestic cup semi-final on April 13. · Sundowns went six consecutive games without conceding before the 1-1 draw in the first leg. On the road in this season's Champions League, they have played six matches, winning two, drawing three, and losing once (1-0 to Raja CA). · Coach Miguel Cardoso is the second manager to lead different clubs to consecutive Champions League finals, after Oscar Fullone (ASEC 1998, Raja 1999). · Cardoso reached the final with Esperance last season, losing to Al Ahly, and is still seeking his first win in any leg of a final. · A Sundowns win would make them the first team since Al Ahly in 2012 to lift the trophy after failing to win the home leg of the final. · Since 2012, five clubs have drawn or lost their home first legs and failed to win the title, including Wydad in 2019. · Lucas Ribeiro Costa's goal in the first leg was his 20th of the season in all competitions and third in the Champions League. It was also his first goal in the tournament from the group stage onward. He has created 20 chances in that phase, the most of any Sundowns player. · In the first leg, Grant Kekana completed 50 passes with a 90.9% accuracy rate – the highest for any player attempting 50 or more passes.
CAF
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
El Karti's late header rescues draw for Pyramids in Champions League final first leg
Published: Saturday, 24 May 2025 Mamelodi Sundowns were denied a first-leg victory in the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final after Walid El Karti's stoppage-time header earned Pyramids FC a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. Lucas Ribeiro Costa's second-half strike had given the home side the lead, but a lapse in concentration late in the match allowed the Egyptian visitors to equalise, setting up a tantalising second leg in Cairo next month. Both sides approached the match cautiously in the first half, with chances at a premium. Iqraam Rayners and Arthur Sales saw efforts go narrowly wide for Sundowns, while Fiston Mayele and Ibrahim Adel tested Ronwen Williams with speculative efforts for the visitors. The game sprang to life after the break. Sundowns took the lead in the 54th minute when Costa latched onto a loose ball in the box, rifling home with his left foot past Ahmed El Shenawy to send the Pretoria crowd into raptures. Sundowns had a chance to extend their lead, but substitute Peter Shalulile and Neo Maema could not convert late opportunities. As the match entered stoppage time, Pyramids showed their resilience. A pinpoint cross from Mohanad Lasheen found El Karti unmarked in the six-yard box, and the Moroccan forward made no mistake with a precise header into the bottom corner to silence the home fans. The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg in Cairo on 1 June, where the new CAF Champions League trophy will be lifted for the first time. The draw extends Pyramids' unbeaten run in the knockout stages and marks a significant result in their debut appearance in the final. For Sundowns, the disappointment of conceding late will be tempered by a solid performance that could yet yield rewards in the return leg. With the match broadcast in over 28 international territories including major European and African markets, the draw showcased the quality of African club football to a global audience. Both teams now turn their attention to preparation for the decisive encounter in Cairo, where history will be made and a new chapter written in the continent's premier club competition.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Ribeiro opener, but now tough CAF Champions League final task awaits Mamelodi Sundowns as Pyramids FC grab late equaliser
Lucas Ribeiro Costa Lucas Ribeiro Costa (centre, No 10) begins the celebrations after scoring for Sundowns against Pyramids. Photo: BackpagePix Mamelodi Sundowns will head into the CAF Champions League final second leg on the back foot after drawing 1-1 with Pyramids FC in Saturday's first leg at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Lucas Ribeiro scored the opener for Sundowns in the 54th minute with a well-executed shot after Aubrey Modiba's effort was blocked, and the rebound fell into his path. The Brazilian had started the move, with his initial shot also cleared off the line as Sundowns went for the jugular after a lacklustre first half. But his goal was cancelled out by Walid Elkarti deep into stoppage time, as the Pharaohs took a huge advantage into the return in Cairo next Sunday night. The Brazilians have to score away to keep their chances of winning the crown for the first time since 2016 under coach Pitso Mosimane. Failure to do that would see them relinquish the title to Pyramids, who've reached their first continental final since their inception. The Champions League final had become a far-fetched dream for Sundowns over the years after eight unsuccessful attempts. As such, that was evident here earlier on as they were not at their best from the start, resulting in a stalemate leading to the first half of the game. The Brazilians must have wanted to come out of the blocks blazing, taking the game to the visitors, who were also navigating uncharted territories at first attempt. However, it wasn't to be. Sundowns found themselves on the back foot, to the extent that Khuliso Mudau had to make numerous clearances at the back. The Bafana Bafana international didn't only pull the rug under Pyramids' feet, but he was involved in a number of inroads – almost setting up the lead for Iqraam Rayners. Rayners has done his best to turn and twist his marker upon Mudau's assist, but his final shot was parried away, exceptionally, for a corner-kick by Ahmed Elshenawi. That scare proved to be a wakeup call for the Pharaohs as they took the game to the visitors, using Ibrahim Mohamed as the focal point. Mohamed tried to make Pyramids tick, including putting Fiston Mayele through on goal at some point, but the DRC international unceremoniously placed his close-range shot wide. Mohamed also tried to make things happen on his own when Mayele and Co were not putting his efforts to good use as he forced a save from Williams. It was a torrid outing for the hosts, and coach Miguel Cardoso made a tactical change, replacing Tashreeq Matthews with Jayden Adams. After the two teams went into the break holding ducks after a yawn of a first half, it took DJ Maphorisa's halftime performance to wake up the sleeping Yellow Nation. Cardoso's halftime team talk seem to have worked a charm as his team returned with enough vigour – led by none other than Ribeiro. The Brazilian waved his magic wand early into the second half, taking the game to the visitors with his trickery and pace. As such, he was duly rewarded, grabbing the lead, which was later cancelled out by Elkarti as the two teams will now have everything to play for at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo next Sunday.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Pyramids: A clash of the titans in CAF Champions League final
Lucas Ribeiro Costa Mamelodi Sundowns' Lucas Ribeiro Costa will be a key figure against Pyramids FC. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Mamelodi Sundowns will face CAF Champions League over-achievers Pyramids FC in the first leg of the final on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld (3pm kick-off), with a golden opportunity to etch their name deeper into South African football history. The Brazilians are on the verge of becoming the only South African team to lift the prestigious trophy twice. But standing in their way is a fearless Pyramids outfit making their first-ever appearance in a CAF Champions League final – guaranteeing a historic outcome, regardless of who claims the title. The Egyptian side crushed hopes of an all-South African final by knocking out Orlando Pirates 3-2 on aggregate, while Sundowns completed their own mission by eliminating Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0 over two legs, after a goalless first-leg draw. Here, Obakeng Meletse breaks down the three key talking points ahead of the two-legged showdown... History will count for little The sides have previously crossed paths during the 2023 group stage. Teboho Mokoena's 17th-minute goal at the 30 June Stadium was the only strike across both legs, sealing a narrow 1-0 aggregate win for the Pretoria-based outfit. Sundowns have been a model of consistency in the tournament, and several players from that campaign remain in the current squad. Their past travels to Egypt mean they won't be fazed by what's to come – but they'll know that past results won't count for much when the whistle blows on Saturday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Neutralising Pyramids' attack With the final being played over two legs, it will be crucial for Sundowns not to travel to Egypt in arrears in aggregate. Pyramids have shown no hesitation in taking the game to their opponents. While that leaves them vulnerable at the back, they've proven lethal going forward – making them a serious threat. In the semi-final against Pirates, they came close to snatching a first-leg advantage, with VAR twice denying them the lead. In the second leg, they twice came from behind to win 3-2 and book their place in the final. Since the group stages, they have scored an impressive 21 goals in 10 matches – compared to just seven from Sundowns in the same span. It's clear that the Brazilians will need to find a way to dull their edge without compromising too much at the back. No shame in winning ugly Sundowns have dominated the domestic scene while staying true to their identity – defined by structured build-up, technical superiority, and composure. But continental football brings different demands, and sometimes style has to give way to a practical approach. Despite scoring only seven goals since the group phase – and just three in their last five games – the team still boast the firepower that shattered this season's league scoring record for the most team goals in a season (65). Applying that same league-winning formula may be what gets them across the line in this final. There's no shame in grinding out results if it means lifting the trophy. But if Sundowns can balance their identity with the toughness required on the continent, they may just carve out their place in African football legacy.
