From World Cup breakthrough to Cairo: Nadhir Benbouali set for Pyramids FC move

Nadhir Benbouali is on the verge of leaving European football for Pyramids FC in Egypt, just months after the Algeria forward secured a surprise place in Vladimir Petkovic’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The 26-year-old, who was largely unknown to the Algerian public until a year ago, is expected to depart Gyori ETO in Hungary and join one of Africa’s most ambitious clubs.

The move represents an unexpected change of direction for a player whose career appeared to be gaining momentum in Europe. Benbouali’s recent rise began after he was called up by Algeria for the first time during the international friendlies held in March.

He was subsequently selected for the World Cup and made a small piece of national-team history during the tournament. Benbouali scored Algeria’s equaliser against Jordan, becoming the country’s first World Cup scorer since 2014.

His international breakthrough followed an impressive season in Hungary. Benbouali scored 19 goals and supplied five assists last season, rediscovering both his finishing touch and confidence at a crucial stage of his career.

Those figures helped persuade Petkovic to include him among the Fennecs’ World Cup options, despite the forward having only recently established himself at European level.

Benbouali began his career at Paradou AC, the Algerian club renowned for developing players who go on to move abroad. He left Algeria in 2022 to join Charleroi, following a route similar to the one taken by Adem Zorgane a year earlier.

However, his time in Belgium proved difficult. He moved to Hungary on loan in 2024 before making the transfer permanent in July 2025, and it was at Gyori ETO that he began to make a significant impact in Europe.

His goalscoring record and new international profile might have suggested that a move to one of Europe’s more prominent leagues was likely this summer. Instead, Benbouali is preparing for a switch to Cairo.

That destination is not without significance. Pyramids FC won the African Champions League in the 2024-25 season and have major ambitions both domestically and on the continental stage.

The Algerian could be brought in as the successor to Congolese forward Fiston Mayele. At Pyramids FC, he would have the opportunity to compete for the Egyptian title while continuing to play in Africa’s leading club competition.

He would also join a squad featuring established Egyptian and Moroccan internationals, including Mohamed Chibi, as Pyramids FC continue to build one of the continent’s most ambitious projects.

The move may not be the return to a stronger European league that some expected after Benbouali’s remarkable season and World Cup selection. Yet, given that he was still attempting to revive his career only a short time ago, a move to Pyramids FC could offer an important next step.

It would provide him with domestic title ambitions, regular continental football and the chance to consolidate his status with Algeria after a rapid rise that has taken him from relative obscurity to the World Cup stage.