By ISAAC DANIEL
Pyramids FC of Egypt record excellent history as they beat South Africa’s top club Mamelodi Sundowns to clinch their first African Champions league trophy with a 3-2 victory on aggregate on Sunday. The first leg of the finals ended in a 1-1 draw on South Africa. The second leg played in Egypt ended 2-1 in favour of the Egyptian club.
The CAF Champions League sponsored by TotalEnergy had a pulsating second leg final at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.
Having forced South African side to a 1-1 in Pretoria, during the first leg. the Pyramid of Egypt boldly went ahead to overcome their opponent with 2-1 emphatic win(3-2 aggregate), to becoming the fourth different club from Egypt to win Africa’s most prestigious club competition in history. They now join the great Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily in an unmatched feat by any other African nation till date.
The Pyramids began the first half with a vision to win the game in front of their enthusiastic and passionate home crowd. The took the lead in the 23rd minutes of the game through their prolific striker Fiston Mayele, who scored with a low shot into the far corner of the goal post to beat goalkeeper Williams after a Pyramids made a clever move on the right side.
The goal marked his ninth in the competition and confirmed his crown as the highest goal scorer in the competition. It also marked his status as one of the key figures in Pyramids’ football historic run.
The very impressive Egyptians doubled their lead shortly after the first goal, 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 on the second half. This came with a handsome reward as Iqraam Rayners pulled one back for the South African champions in the 75th minute. The classic goal came from a well composed finishing from close range. The goal immediately set up a tense finale.
However, Miguel Cardoso’s tutored South African side made every effort to score he equalizer. They pushed forward relentlessly in the final minutes, with Peter Shalulile and Lebo Mothiba both having efforts blocked in a frantic closing stretch. Unfortunately, their efforts was abortive and could only last the 10 minutes of the added time.
However, Pyramids held firm to stop Mamelodi from see equalizing the goal. Thanks in large part to the heroics saves of iconic Egyptian goalkeeper, Ahmed El Shenawy and a composed defensive performance.
According to CAF Press release, 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,” stated on her official website.
Meanwhile, it was a night of heartbreak for Memalodi 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 African Brazilians” club side suffered their second defeat in a Champions League final, 24 years after losing to Al Ahly in 2001.
