Latest news with #TotalEnergiesCAFChampionsLeague
The South African
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs target breaks Sundowns hearts
Pyramids FC are the new champions of Africa after beating the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT The first leg had ended 1-1 at the Loftus Versfeld in the previous week, before Pyramids finished the job yesterday evening. Kaizer Chiefs target Fiston Mayele opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, while his teammate Ahmed Sammy found the second goal in the 56th minute. Iqraam Rayners scored Sundowns' consolation in the 75th minute, but it was too little, too late. CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RESULT: PYRAMIDS FC 2-1 SUNDOWNS (3-2 ON AGGREGATE) '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,' CAF reported. Zimbabwean attacker to Orlando Pirates? Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Tlhopane Motsepe. Image: Sowetan Kaizer Chiefs news: FOUR players GONE '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. ADVERTISEMENT '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,' the report added. WHAT WENT WRONG FOR MAMELODI SUNDOWNS? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
CAF
7 hours 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
7 hours ago
- Sport
- 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.
CAF
11 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Fiston Mayele tops TotalEnergies CAF Champions League scorers chart
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC striker Fiston Mayele capped off a historic campaign by sealing the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League top scorer award, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament in the 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in Sunday's final in Cairo. The 30-year-old DR Congo forward delivered a composed finish in the 23rd minute at the 30 June Stadium, latching onto a pass before firing a low drive beyond Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to set Pyramids on their way to a maiden Champions League crown. Mayele's goal proved crucial in helping the Egyptian side overcome the South African giants, with Ahmed Samy adding a second before halftime. Although Sundowns pulled one back through Iqraam Rayners, Pyramids held firm to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Mayele's nine goals came in the group stage and knockout rounds of the competition, with his additional three goals from the preliminary rounds not added to the tally. His tally edged him ahead of Pyramids teammate Ibrahim Adel and Al Ahly midfielder Imam Ashour, who both ended the campaign with five goals and two assists apiece. Mayele's goal against Sundowns not only handed Pyramids their first-ever continental title but also ensured he would stand alone at the summit of the goal-scoring chart. The striker was a constant threat throughout the campaign, leading the line with a mixture of power, speed, and composure. His performances have been central to Pyramids' rise to the summit of African club football, and his final goal was a fitting conclusion to a standout season. With this win, Pyramids became the fourth Egyptian club to win the Champions League, joining Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily in a select group. Mayele now becomes only the second player from the Democratic Republic of Congo to finish as the top scorer in the CAF Champions League in the past decade, further enhancing his growing reputation on the continent. Top 5 Scorers – TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/25 Fiston Mayele (Pyramids) – 9 goals Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids) – 6 goals Imam Ashour (Al Ahly) – 4 goals Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns) - 3 goals Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 4 buts
CAF
13 hours 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.
