Mokwena and Barker guide Pyramids and Simba into CAF Champions League group stage

Rulani Mokwena and Steve Barker have secured CAF Champions League group-stage places after leading Pyramids FC and Simba SC through the preliminary rounds with emphatic aggregate victories.

Mokwena’s Pyramids defeated South Sudanese side El Merriekh Bentiu 4-0 on Saturday to complete a 5-0 aggregate success and maintain their outstanding start under the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach.

The victory extended Mokwena’s winning sequence since taking charge of the Egyptian club to 12 consecutive matches. It also underlined the influence he has had at the reigning African champions.

Pyramids took control before half-time, with Abdelrahman Magdi scoring twice. Mostafa Fathi added a third in first-half stoppage time, before Nadhir Benbouali completed the scoring in the 71st minute.

Qualification represents an important stage in Pyramids’ attempt to retain the continental title. Mokwena, 39, inherited a side that won the Champions League in the 2024/25 season and must now maintain those standards while developing his own identity as manager.

Barker’s Simba SC also progressed comfortably, beating Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto 3-0 on Sunday to secure a 9-1 aggregate win.

The Tanzanian club had established a commanding 6-1 advantage in the first leg. In the return match, played in front of their home supporters, second-half goals from Anicet Oura, Elie Mpanzu and South African forward Matlala Makgalwa completed the job.

The result placed Simba among the final 16 clubs in the competition and handed Barker another opportunity to measure his team against some of Africa’s leading sides.

The former Stellenbosch FC coach has made an encouraging start in Tanzania, where Simba are pursuing continental success alongside their domestic ambitions.

Mokwena and Barker are part of a growing group of South African coaches working at prominent clubs beyond the country’s borders. Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi also guided Young Africans into the group stage, although he left the club soon afterwards.

Orlando Pirates will also represent South African club football in the competition after qualifying with a victory over Namibian side African Stars.

There was disappointment for Mamelodi Sundowns, however, as they were eliminated by Angola’s Wiliete SC. A draw in the second leg left the South African club behind on aggregate.

With the group-stage draw approaching, Mokwena and Barker can now focus on the greater challenge of facing Africa’s established heavyweights and turning their impressive qualifying campaigns into serious title challenges.