Egyptian football giants Pyramids FC managed to uphold their unbeaten streak in the CAF Champions League as they fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the first leg of the quarter-final clash on Friday night. Despite conceding an early goal, the defending champions showed resilience and determination to level the score in the second half, setting the stage for a tense return leg in Cairo.
The Moroccan hosts stunned the visitors early on, taking the lead within just eight minutes. Ahmed Hammoudan, who opened his scoring account for this season’s campaign, capitalized on a well-timed pass that sliced through the Pyramids’ defence. The forward sprinted down the left flank and expertly placed the ball past veteran Egyptian goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy, sending the home crowd into a frenzy despite the stadium being eerily quiet due to the match being played behind closed doors. This precaution was taken following crowd disturbances during a previous FAR Rabat fixture.
As the game progressed, both teams exchanged periods of control, with neither side able to create many clear-cut opportunities before the break. The first half ended with FAR Rabat holding their slender advantage, but the visitors came out with renewed energy after the interval. Their efforts paid off in the 52nd minute when Mahmoud Zalaka, who has been influential throughout the tournament, reacted swiftly to a rebound off FAR’s goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti. Zalaka’s quick reflexes allowed him to poke the ball into the net, restoring parity and reigniting Pyramids’ hopes of retaining their continental crown.
It is worth noting that this quarter-final encounter carries added significance as these two teams also met in the same stage last season. Back then, Pyramids edged past FAR Rabat with a 4-3 aggregate victory, a result that propelled them towards their maiden CAF Champions League triumph. Since that historic success, the Egyptian side has maintained impressive form, boasting eight wins and three draws in their quest to defend the title. Their triumph last season earned them a substantial prize of four million US dollars, equivalent to 3.5 million euros, after defeating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
Adding to the excitement, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced a significant increase in the prize money for the tournament’s champions. The first-place award has been raised by 50%, now standing at six million dollars, while the runners-up will continue to receive two million dollars. This financial boost underscores the growing prestige and competitiveness of Africa’s premier club competition.
Returning to the match, Pyramids’ star striker Mahmoud Mayele, who was the top scorer in last season’s Champions League with nine goals, was substituted in the 83rd minute. Despite scoring three goals during the qualifiers this season, Mayele has struggled to find the net in the last eight matches, highlighting the challenges faced by the team’s attacking line. The game itself started late at 10 pm local time, a scheduling adjustment made to accommodate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Although players are permitted to break their fast during matches, it is customary for them to wait until sunset to eat and drink, resulting in late kick-offs that sometimes extend into the early hours of the following day.
Meanwhile, in another quarter-final first leg fixture, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Malian club Stade Malien in Pretoria. Stade Malien’s appearance marked the first time a Malian team has reached the knockout stages since the competition’s format and name were revamped in 1997, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this year’s tournament. The second leg between Pyramids and FAR Rabat is scheduled for March 21 in Cairo, with the winners set to face either Renaissance Berkane of Morocco or Sudan’s Al Hilal in the semi-finals in April.
