Al Ahly wanted a sixth consecutive African Champions League final, but the Egyptian giants fell short. Only to be removed by compatriots Mamelodi Sundowns with an own goal in stoppage time. The second leg finished 1-1, sending Sundowns through on the away goals rule. Pyramids booked themselves a place in the final after defeating Orlando Pirates 3-2 in a dramatic qualifier semifinal. Now, they are in the midst of a high-stakes battle with Sundowns.
Al Ahly appeared to be on track for another final appearance when Taher Mohamed scored a spectacular goal in the 24th minute. He boasted a devastating counter from the right, rounding Al Ahly going into the valuable lead. They utterly ran the game for all but 15 minutes. The tide turned in a serious way during stoppage time. Defender Yasser Ibrahim’s own goal would be the first of many mistakes for the Egyptian national team. It was this unforeseen twist that pushed Sundowns to go through. What had seemed like it would be an easy victory for Al Ahly devolved into agony.
Pyramids Secure Thrilling Victory
Pyramids were strong throughout, knocking out South African side Orlando Pirates in the semifinal to reach the final for the first time. After falling behind twice, Fiston Mayele emerged as the hero for Pyramids, scoring both the equalizer and the decisive goal. Mayele’s first goal came after Mostafa Fathy’s brilliant cross, allowing Pyramids to tie it up after going down in the opening minutes.
In a dramatic finish, Mayele reacted swiftly to a rebound from a corner kick with just six minutes remaining, sealing the victory for Pyramids. The squad showed their doki doki fighting spirit as they waged a successful comeback. Today, they are focused on making it to the final, where they will meet Mamelodi Sundowns.
Upcoming Final Details
Looking ahead, the showdown between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns should shape up to be one of the most thrilling finales. That opening leg starts in Pretoria on May 24th. After the first leg in Nigeria, the two teams will meet again on June 1 in Cairo for the return leg. Both teams will enter hungry to win the coveted title and fans are waiting for an exciting matchup.
With Pyramids and Sundowns set to build toward a titanic rivalry, both sides will look to build tremendous anticipation for a heated battle! This final was played with high stakes and top-tier talent on both sides. It is bound to keep football fans all over Africa and the world glued.
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