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Pyramids Keep CAF Champions League Title in Egypt

Pyramids FC have kept the CAF Champions League title in Egypt after claiming it for the first time in their history with a 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the final at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo.

The first leg, held in Pretoria last Saturday, ended in a 1-1 draw, giving Pyramids a 3-2 win on aggregate and securing the title as the fourth Egyptian club to win it, following Al Ahly (12 titles, including last year), Zamalek (5 titles), and Ismaily (1969).

Pyramids will now face Morocco’s RS Berkane—CAF Confederation Cup champions—in the CAF Super Cup. They will also represent Africa in the Intercontinental Cup and have secured their place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

Since Sundowns’ triumph nine years ago, Arab clubs have dominated the competition from 2017 onward, with Wydad Casablanca winning it twice (2017 and 2022), Espérance de Tunis also twice (2018 and 2019), and Al Ahly four times (2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024). It’s worth noting that Sundowns had also lost the final to Al Ahly back in 2001.

Match Highlights

The match began cautiously from both sides. Pyramids had the first real attempt in the 16th minute, backed by strong home support at the national stadium, when Ahmed Atef “Qatta” fired a long-range shot that was easily saved by Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Pyramids then took the lead when Atef sent in a cross that was poorly cleared by the Sundowns defense, falling to DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele, who smashed a first-time shot into the net past Williams to put the hosts ahead (24’).

Just before halftime, Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy saved his team from an equalizer after a one-on-one chance for Sundowns’ Thapelo Maseko, but El Shenawy made a brilliant stop to keep the score 1-0 at the break.

Early in the second half, VAR reviewed a potential red card for Pyramids defender Mahmoud Marei, who brought down Sundowns’ Iqraam Rayners as he was about to go through on goal, but the referee decided to let play continue.

Ahmed Sami then doubled Pyramids’ lead in the 56th minute when Moroccan Mohamed Chibi sent in a free-kick cross that Sami powerfully headed into the net, putting his side closer to a historic first continental title.

Sundowns players pushed hard to get back into the match and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro played a ball into the Pyramids box, and a clearance mistake by Ahmed Sami allowed the ball to fall to Rayners, who slotted it past El Shenawy to reduce the deficit.

The referee added 10 minutes of stoppage time, during which Sundowns desperately sought an equalizer but to no avail, as Pyramids held on to secure the prestigious continental crown.

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