Mamelodi Sundowns’ quest for a second CAF Champions League crown ended in heartbreak as Egyptian side Pyramids FC clinched their first-ever continental title. A 2-1 victory in Cairo sealed a 3-2 aggregate win in a dramatic final on Sunday night.
After a 1-1 draw in Pretoria left the tie finely poised, the stage was set at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium for an epic conclusion. Pyramids, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, struck first in the 23rd minute. Fiston Mayele capitalised on a defensive error by Grant Kekana. He rifled a low shot into the far corner for his ninth goal of the tournament. The Sundowns struggled to find their rhythm, with misplaced passes and missed opportunities haunting their first-half performance.
Shortly after the break, Pyramids doubled their lead. Defender Ahmed Samy converted Mohamed Chibi’s cross to head the ball home in the 56th minute of the game, sending the Cairo faithful into celebration. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back in the 75th minute, finishing from close range to reignite hope for the South Africans.
The final minutes were frantic, with Sundowns pushing forward relentlessly. Peter Shalulile and Lebo Mothiba both saw their efforts blocked. While Pyramids’ goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy produced crucial saves to preserve the lead. Despite 10 minutes of added time, the Sundowns could not find the equaliser.
The Sundowns’ players were left devastated, ruing defensive lapses and missed chances that cost them the trophy. Their dream of reclaiming the continental crown for the first time since 2016 slipped away. Marking their second defeat in a Champions League final, 24 years after their first heartbreak in 2001.
For Pyramids FC, the victory was historic. Founded just a decade ago, the club now joins the elite ranks of Egyptian football. They became the fourth Egyptian side to lift Africa’s most prestigious club trophy. Their triumph also extends Egypt’s dominance in African club football for a third consecutive year, following Al Ahly’s recent successes.