Pyramids FC will host Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, with both teams locked at 1-1 following the first leg in Pretoria.
The decisive encounter will take place at the June 30 Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 GMT. With the aggregate score level, the Egyptian side enters the match with a narrow advantage, having scored an away goal in the dying moments of the first leg.
That crucial equaliser came through Walid El Karti, whose added-time header stunned the home crowd at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The goal dramatically altered the dynamics of the tie, giving Krunoslav Jurcic’s side a valuable edge heading into the return fixture on home soil.
For Pyramids FC, the stakes are historic. The Cairo-based club has never lifted Africa’s most prestigious club trophy, and Saturday’s match presents an opportunity to claim a maiden CAF Champions League title in front of their home supporters.
The team’s rapid rise in recent years has been well documented, and a continental triumph would mark a significant milestone in their development.
Jurcic, the Croatian tactician at the helm, will be counting on home advantage and the momentum from their first-leg performance. The squad showed resilience and tactical discipline in South Africa, weathering pressure before finding a breakthrough in the final seconds.
Mamelodi Sundowns, under the guidance of Portuguese manager Miguel Cardoso, face a challenging assignment. Although the South African champions are widely considered favourites due to their experience and squad depth, they now must score in Cairo to keep their title hopes alive.
With the away goals rule still in effect in the CAF Champions League, the equation is straightforward: any score draw beyond 1-1 would favour the visitors, while a goalless draw would hand the trophy to Pyramids. A 1-1 result would force extra time and potentially penalties.
Sundowns are no strangers to high-stakes finals. The club’s last CAF Champions League title came in 2016, when they defeated Egyptian giants Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate—ironically, also in Egypt. That triumph remains their only continental crown, and the club is determined to add a second to its record.
The first leg offered a glimpse of the tactical battle to come, with both sides showing moments of control and caution. Pyramids’ ability to remain compact and strike late could be decisive again, while Sundowns will look to impose their attacking rhythm early, knowing a single goal could turn the tie in their favour.
The match promises to be a tightly contested affair, not only due to the scoreline but also the high stakes involved for both clubs. For Pyramids FC, it is a shot at history; for Sundowns, it is a chance to reclaim continental glory.
As the final whistle draws near, all eyes will be on Cairo, where a new African champion will be crowned in what is expected to be a dramatic and fiercely fought conclusion to this season’s CAF Champions League.
