- Pyramids FC beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Sunday, June 1, in Cairo to win their first-ever CAF Champions League title.
- After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Egyptian side claimed a 3-2 aggregate victory, becoming the fourth Egyptian club after Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily- to lift the prestigious trophy.
- Striker Fiston Mayele capped a stellar campaign by winning the Golden Boot with nine goals.
Pyramids FC etched their name into African football folklore on Sunday night, overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Cairo to clinch their maiden CAF Champions League crown.
The Egyptian side secured a 3-2 aggregate win over the South African heavyweights, joining an elite circle of champions and becoming the fourth Egyptian club after Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily to ever claim the prestigious continental trophy.
Roared on by a fervent home crowd, Pyramids opened with intensity, seizing the lead in the 23rd minute through their in-form striker Fiston Mayele.
The Congolese forward lashed a precise low drive into the far corner following a deft attacking combination down the right wing.
ALSO READ: Nairobi United brush aside Mara Sugar, book FKF Cup final date with Gor
It was Mayele’s ninth strike in the tournament, cementing his role as a central figure in Pyramids’ historic campaign.
Shortly after the interval, defender Ahmed Samy extended the advantage, soaring above his marker to nod home a pinpoint cross from Mohamed Chibi in the 56th minute, sparking wild celebrations across the Cairo International Stadium.
Despite trailing by two goals, Sundowns showed resilience. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back for the South African champions in the 75th minute with a composed finish from close range, setting up a tense finale.
Miguel Cardoso’s men surged forward in the dying moments, with Peter Shalulile and Lebo Mothiba both seeing efforts repelled in a frenetic closing phase that stretched into 10 minutes of stoppage time.
But Pyramids held their ground, anchored by a masterful display from goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy and a disciplined rearguard that withstood the late onslaught.
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.
ALSO READ: RS Berkane clinch third CAF Confederation Cup title
For Sundowns, it was a night of bitter disappointment.
They were eyeing a second CAF title and sought to become the first team since Al Ahly in 2012 to win the final after a home-leg setback.
Instead, the South Africans suffered their second final defeat, 24 years after their 2001 loss once again to Egyptian opposition.
Jurcic writes his name in African football history
For Jurcic, the result is historic.
The Croatian tactician becomes the first from his nation to capture the CAF Champions League title – a distinction that places him among the ranks of legendary European managers who have left an indelible impact on African football, reminiscent of Yugoslav icons Ivan Ridanovic and Branko Zutic in the 1970s and ’80s.
Having fallen short in last season’s CAF Confederation Cup final, Pyramids have now gone one better, crowning years of strategic investment and ambition with the continent’s ultimate prize.
Mayele Shines as tournament’s top marksman
Pyramids FC forward Fiston Mayele capped off a sensational campaign by clinching the CAF Champions League Golden Boot, finishing with nine goals.
His tally, amassed during the group and knockout stages narrowly surpassed that of teammate Ibrahim Adel and Al Ahly’s midfield dynamo Imam Ashour, who both registered five goals and two assists.
Mayele becomes only the second player from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past decade to top the scoring charts in the competition, further elevating his stature as one of Africa’s most lethal forwards.
Top 5 scorers – CAF Champions League 2024/25
- Fiston Mayele (Pyramids) – 9 goals
- Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids) – 6 goals
- Imam Ashour (Al Ahly) – 4 goals
- Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 4 goals
- Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 3 goals
