Pyramids FC Draws in Quarterfinal Clash Against FAR Rabat
Pyramids FC of Egypt showcased their resilience in the CAF Champions League by maintaining their unbeaten record while defending their title. In a thrilling quarterfinal first leg match against FAR Rabat of Morocco on Friday night, they managed to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw. The encounter, held behind closed doors due to previous crowd disturbances, saw the home side take an early lead with Ahmed Hammoudan scoring just eight minutes into the match, marking his first goal of the tournament.
However, Pyramids demonstrated their fighting spirit and equalized shortly after the second half commenced. Mahmoud Zalaka, who has been a key player for the team, scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute, marking his second goal in this African campaign. The sequence began when FAR's goalkeeper, Ahmed Tagnaouti, parried a close-range effort from Ahmed Atef following a corner kick, allowing Zalaka to react swiftly and convert the rebound into the net.
The second leg of this exhilarating quarterfinal will take place on March 21 in Cairo, where the overall winners will advance to face either Renaissance Berkane or Al Hilal of Sudan in the semifinals scheduled for April. Last season, Pyramids and FAR met in the quarterfinals as well, where the Egyptian club triumphed with an aggregate score of 4-3. Pyramids, who stunned the continent last season by claiming the title, have been in formidable form, winning eight matches and drawing three as they seek to secure back-to-back titles. Their impressive performance in last year's final against Mamelodi Sundowns earned them a reward of $4 million (€3.5 million).
This season, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced an increase in the first prize for the Champions League by 50%, now standing at $6 million, while the runners-up will continue to receive $2 million. The match in Rabat kicked off at 2200 local time, a timing adjustment due to the observance of Ramadan, during which players typically break their fast after sunset. This late kickoff has become a common practice during the holy month, ensuring that players can perform at their best without compromising their religious commitments.
In another notable quarterfinal match, Mamelodi Sundowns established a commanding 3-0 lead against Stade Malien in Pretoria, marking a significant achievement for the Malian club as they reached the knockout stage for the first time since the competition's reformatting in 1997.
As reported by supersport.com.
