CAIRO — In an exhilarating climax to the African Champions League, Pyramids captured the coveted title on Sunday, ensuring the prestigious trophy remains in Egypt. Remarkably, this victory comes merely seven years after the club’s transformation and relocation to Cairo.
Patrice Motsepe, the president of African soccer’s governing body, had the distinguished role of presenting the trophy. This presentation came on the heels of witnessing his own club, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, succumb to a 2-1 defeat in Cairo, culminating in a 3-2 aggregate triumph for Pyramids.
The match saw Pyramids seize the momentum with an opening goal from Congo forward Fiston Mayele, who notched his ninth goal of the tournament. Further solidifying their lead, defender Ahmed Samy scored in the 56th minute under the strategic direction of Croatian coach Krunoslav Jur?i?. Despite the pressure, including a response from Iqraam Rayners in the 75th minute and enduring a tense 10 minutes of added stoppage time, Pyramids held firm.
This victory added another chapter to Egypt’s illustrious soccer legacy, bringing their total African club titles to 19, won by four distinct teams. Al Ahly leads this tally with 12 titles, including recent conquests in the past two tournaments. Zamalek boasts five titles, while Ismaily holds one.
The ascent of Pyramids can be traced back to its rebranding and strategic relocation to Cairo in 2018, spearheaded by then-Saudi sports executive Turki Al-Sheikh. Now a prominent figure in the boxing realm, Al-Sheikh was succeeded in ownership by Salem Al-Shamsi, a businessman from the UAE and previously the club’s vice president, just a year thereafter.
This landmark victory secures Pyramids’ entry into the FIFA Club World Cup set for 2029, marking a significant milestone in their burgeoning history.
Meanwhile, Sundowns, who claimed the African title in 2016, is set to compete in the United States next month. They will participate in the inaugural 32-team edition of the FIFA tournament. The South African club is slated to face Ulsan in Orlando on June 17, followed by matches against Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati and Fluminense in Miami.
With these developments, the African soccer scene remains vibrant, reflecting both tradition and emerging powerhouse dynamics.