Egypt’s Pyramids FC are the champions of African club football after overcoming South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League final by a 3-2 aggregate score on Sunday.
The big spending Cairo club defeated Sundowns 2-1 in the second leg played at the 30 June Stadium in the Egyptian capital to secure the trophy.
It was a close and competitive final throughout the first leg in Pretoria and the second leg on Sunday. The first half of the second leg featured an even clash with Sundowns controlling the majority of possession.
However, it was the hosts Pyramids whose tactical flexibility helped them take the lead. A direct pass down the right wing found Pyramids striker Fiston Mayele who set up Ahmed Atef for a cross into the Sundowns penalty area. Defender Grant Kekana’s clearance attempt went right to Mayele who buried his shot with a perfect first-time finish.
The frustration only continued for Sundowns, who were denied a goal just before halftime when Tashreeq Matthews was sent in 1v1 and denied by an excellent save from Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy.
In the 56th minute, a free kick service from the right wing by Pyramids right back Mohamed Chibi found the run of Ahmed Samy. The defender stooped down to head past Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and after a long VAR review to see if Samy was offsides, the goal was confirmed by the narrowest of margins to add to the task ahead for Sundowns.
Pyramids were content to defend after the second goal but it was a mistake against the prolific Sundowns attack which put the Egyptian club’s defense under pressure. Hope was restored for the Betway Premiership champions when Iqraam Rayners volleyed in from eight yards out in the 75th minute after Pyramids failed to clear a cross, leaving Sundowns only a goal away from leading on the away goal rule.
Sundowns continued to launch attacks but the Pyramids defense and goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy kept their concentration while the hosts made more of an effort to keep Sundowns honest with counter-attacks. A long ten minutes of second half stoppage time prolonged the suspense but Pyramids just held on despite a desperate charge from Sundowns.
Pyramids’ first continental trophy comes after a long period of big spending and disappointment for the Egyptian Nile League runners-up but now the Cairo club finally have the recognition they have been seeking in African club football.
Sundowns will now turn their attention to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where they begin play in Group F against Korean side Ulsan HD on June 17 before facing Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Brazilian giants Fluminense.
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