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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.
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Pyramids Win First CAF Champions League Title With Win Over Sundowns
Pyramids FC have been crowned champions of Africa for the first time in their history after beating South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final. The Egyptian side sealed the title with a 3-2 aggregate win, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Moroccan duo Walid El Karti and Mohamed Chibi both started for Pyramids at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. El Karti played the full 90 minutes, while Chibi was substituted in the 88th minute after providing an assist. Pyramids opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Fiston Mayele, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. They doubled their advantage early in the second half when Ahmed Samy converted a pinpoint cross from Chibi in the 56th minute. Sundowns pulled one back in the 75th minute thanks to a goal from Iqraam Rayners, but it wasn't enough to stop Pyramids from claiming their maiden continental title. The Cairo-based club, which only joined the Egyptian Premier League in 2014, have now reached the summit of African football. Tags: CAF Champions LeagueMamelodi SundownsPyramids FCSouth Africa
CAF
2 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Jurcic's mission to deliver Pyramids' greatest triumph
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Egypt's Pyramids FC are on the brink of a historic breakthrough — and head coach Krunoslav Jurcic is determined to be the architect behind it. The Croatian tactician will lead the Cairo-based club into the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final against Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, knowing that victory would not only bring the club its first continental title but also mark a landmark moment in African football. After a gritty 1-1 draw in Pretoria last weekend, Pyramids now return home with everything to play for. Walid El Karti's late header at Loftus Versfeld gave Jurčić's men a priceless away goal and renewed belief ahead of the decisive leg at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo. For Jurcic, a former Croatian national team player and seasoned coach in Europe and the Gulf, this final is an opportunity to cement his name in African football history. No Croatian coach has ever lifted the CAF Champions League title since the days of Yugoslavians Ivan Ridanovic and Branko Zutic, who led Cameroon's Canon Yaoundé to glory in 1978 and 1980. Speaking ahead of the clash, Jurcic urged fans to support not just Pyramids, but Egyptian football as a whole. '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,' he said. Under Jurcic's leadership, Pyramids have grown into serious contenders on the African stage. Last season, they reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup, and now stand on the cusp of joining Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily as Champions League winners. Victory would also extend Egypt's dominance in African club football, making it the first country in history to produce four different Champions League-winning clubs. More than a title is at stake — it's a chance for Jurcic to bring long-awaited recognition to a club often seen as outsiders. And with seasoned winners like Sherif Ekramy, Walid El Karti, and Ramadan Sobhi in the squad, Jurcic believes Pyramids have both the talent and experience to cross the final hurdle.
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Pyramids poised to carve name in African football history
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC are just 90 minutes away from achieving the greatest milestone in their club's short history as they prepare to host South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final on Sunday at Cairo's Air Defense Stadium. With the first leg ending 1-1 in Pretoria — Lucas Ribeiro's strike cancelled out by a late equaliser from Walid El Karti — the Egyptian side head into the return fixture knowing a goalless draw or any outright win would secure them their first-ever Champions League crown. This would not only mark a seismic moment for Pyramids FC, but it would also add a new name to the elite list of African football champions. Founded in 2008 and only emerging as a professional force in recent years, the Cairo-based side are now on the cusp of continental greatness. Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić has guided the team to this historic final, looking to add the CAF Champions League trophy to the Egypt Cup title he won earlier in the season. Should he succeed, he will become the first Croatian manager to lift Africa's premier club competition trophy — a significant personal and national milestone. Jurčić follows in the footsteps of another Croatian, Ante Cacic, who led Pyramids to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2020, where they narrowly lost to Morocco's RS Berkane. This time, Pyramids are determined to go one step further. Victory on Sunday would also see Pyramids join an exclusive club of Egyptian giants — Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily — as winners of Africa's most prestigious club tournament. Egypt would also become the only country to have four different clubs crowned champions in the competition's history. With the Air Defense Stadium expected to be packed with local supporters and the eyes of the continent watching, Pyramids FC know they are not just playing for a trophy, but for their legacy.
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Pyramids aim to make Egypt first nation with four CAF Champions League titles
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Egypt could become the first country in African football history to have four different clubs crowned continental champions, as Pyramids FC prepare for a decisive second-leg showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. The Cairo-based side will host the South African giants on Sunday at the Air Defense Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time. The tie is finely balanced at 1-1 after the first leg in Pretoria, where Walid El Karti's dramatic stoppage-time header salvaged a draw for the Egyptians following Lucas Ribeiro's opener for Sundowns. A goalless draw or any win at home would be enough to hand Pyramids FC their first-ever CAF Champions League title — and in doing so, etch their name alongside Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. No other nation has ever had four separate clubs lift the coveted African title. If Pyramids triumph, Egypt will achieve this unprecedented feat, further underlining the country's dominance in the history of club football on the continent. In the modern Champions League era — which began in 1997 — Egypt already leads with Al Ahly's record 11 titles and Zamalek's five. Pyramids' victory would see Egypt become the only country to have produced three different winners in this era, overtaking countries like Morocco and DR Congo. For Pyramids FC, a club with significant investment but still seeking major silverware, the stakes are monumental. After years of chasing domestic and continental success, the Sky Blues now stand one match away from a historic breakthrough. Victory would not only validate their project but also signal the rise of a new powerhouse in African football. Their opponents, Sundowns, are no strangers to the big stage, having won the title in 2016 and reached the latter stages in recent years. But with momentum from the first leg and history within reach, the Pyramids camp is brimming with belief ahead of Sunday night's decider.
