In a night that may well be remembered as the dawn of a new football era in Egypt, Pyramids FC clinched their first CAF Champions League title, becoming the fourth Egyptian club to lift the continent’s most coveted trophy. Their 2-1 win over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in front of a roaring crowd at Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory — and announced to the world that Egypt has a new football tycoon.
With this victory, Egypt sets a continental milestone: no other African country has produced four different CAF Champions League winners. Al-Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily — and now, the young and ambitious Pyramids FC.
More than just a trophy, this triumph has cemented the Pyramids’ evolution from flashy project to continental powerhouse, one that promises to reshape the balance of Egyptian football and stir a new triangle of rivalry with Cairo giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek.
Formed just a decade ago, Pyramids FC — formerly Al Assiouty Sport — was acquired and rebranded by investors with grand ambitions. Backed by heavy investment, the club rapidly built a squad laced with experience and flair, but until now had lacked silverware to validate their ambitions. That changed under the cool leadership of Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurisic, who masterminded a campaign built on discipline, resilience, and moments of magic.
“We were fighting alone at times, but now we’ve earned the respect of a continent,” Jurisic said in a post-match press conference, reflecting on the journey that took the club from Confederation Cup heartbreak in 2020 to continental glory just five years later.
The final itself was a showcase of hunger. Goals from Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Samy ensured the home fans at the sold-out stadium — many of them young supporters draped in the club’s sky blue colors — witnessed a night that may signal a generational shift in Egyptian club football.
While the North African football landscape has long been defined by the titanic tussle between Al-Ahly and Zamalek, Pyramids’ rise brings fresh energy to the pitch and the stands. For young Egyptian fans, many of whom were not alive during Zamalek’s last continental triumph, Pyramids offers a new identity and modern football culture.
“This isn’t just a new champion — it’s the emergence of a third power in Egyptian football,” said Hassan El-Shazly, a veteran sports analyst with ONTime Sports. “They have the funding, the infrastructure, and now, the history. Expect the rivalry to evolve dramatically in the next few seasons.”
Social media erupted following the final whistle, with hashtags like #NewKingsOfAfrica and #PyramidsEra trending across Egypt and the Middle East. The club’s young fanbase, energized by a modern brand and fast-paced style, has become a key cultural phenomenon, representing a shift in football identity and fandom.
With this victory, Egypt extended its continental supremacy, now boasting 17 CAF Champions League titles. The country’s dominance is unmatched, and Pyramids’ win reinforces Egypt’s position as the heart of African club football.
“Egypt is not just the past of African football — it’s the present and the future,” noted CAF media officer Boubacar Diallo. “With four different clubs winning the title, Egypt’s depth and quality are simply unrivaled.”
Next up, Pyramids FC will face Morocco’s RS Berkane in the CAF Super Cup, a highly anticipated rematch of their 2020 Confederation Cup final loss. The match date and location are yet to be confirmed by CAF, but the Egyptian side is already plotting revenge.
“Now we are not chasing titles — we are defending them,” said Walid El Karti, the veteran midfielder whose last-minute goal in the first leg was pivotal in the final’s outcome.
With Ahly’s continental dynasty, Zamalek’s historical prestige, and Pyramids’ modern rise, Egyptian football now enters an era rich with narrative, rivalry, and opportunity.
“This could be the beginning of an era similar to Spain’s La Liga of the early 2000s,” said Dr. Mohamed Saeed, a sports historian at Ain Shams University. “Three teams, each with their own story, battling across competitions — it’s the perfect storm.”
And for the young fans who packed the Air Defense Stadium, this wasn’t just a victory — it was the birth of a legacy they can call their own.
