Category: Sport News

Egypt's Pyramids historic moment in CAF Champions League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Pyramids historic moment in CAF Champions League

Pyramids made history by reaching their first-ever CAF Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, despite losing 2-0 in the second leg to Morocco’s FAR Rabat. They advanced 4-3 on aggregate after winning 4-1 in Cairo last week, which gave them a key advantage.

In the second leg at the Stade d’Honneur in Meknes, FAR Rabat started strong. Youssef El-Fahli scored in the seventh minute, boosting hopes for a comeback. With the crowd behind them, they pushed hard to close the gap.

Pyramids quickly responded; Mohamed Hamdy had a chance to score in the 12th minute with a powerful header, but goalkeeper Hamza Hayani made a great save. Despite the pressure from FAR Rabat, Pyramids kept their cool, with veteran goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy making crucial saves to maintain their aggregate lead in the first half.

In the second half, FAR Rabat continued to push. El-Fahli missed a big chance early on, and El-Shenawy made two important saves to keep Pyramids ahead. The second goal for FAR Rabat came in the 82nd minute from substitute Joel Villa, creating a tense finish.

FAR Rabat nearly scored again in the 93rd minute when Zahzouh’s free-kick just missed. Pyramids held on through five minutes of added time, showing determination to protect their aggregate lead and secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Now, Pyramids FC will watch the other quarter-final between Orlando Pirates and MC Alger. Pirates lead 1-0 going into the second leg on Wednesday. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Pyramids FC, which has quickly grown in Egyptian football and now stands among the continent’s top clubs, aiming for continental success.

CAF Champions wrap-up: Al Ahly set for Semi-Finals Against Sundowns
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF Champions League: Al Ahly set for Semi-Finals Against Sundowns

Al Ahly has reached the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after beating Al Hilal 1-0 in the second leg at Sheikh Bedia Stadium in Mauritania on Tuesday giving them a 2-0 victory overall.

Midfielder Imam Ashour scored the crucial goal in the 80th minute. Al Ahly now focuses on their semi-final match with Mamelodi Sundowns, who won against Esperance de Tunis in their quarter-final.

The rivalry between these two teams has grown in recent years, and this match is expected to draw a lot of attention.

This win marks Al Ahly’s 21st appearance in the Champions League semi-finals and their sixth straight time in this round. They will face Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa in the next match, which is highly anticipated.

Cautious First Half in Mauritania

Both teams started carefully, trying to control the midfield. Al Ahly, led by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, showed more energy early on. Slovenian forward Nijk Gradishar almost scored in the 9th minute with a powerful shot that forced a great save from Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Issa Fofana.

Imam Ashour, important in the first leg, briefly worried fans after a tough challenge but bounced back and remained active. In the 34th minute, Al Ahly had a good chance when a low cross just missed both Gradishar and Wissam Abu Ali. Ashour tried to score with a strong shot from outside the box. Just before half-time, Al Hilal made a dangerous low cross into the box, but Al Ahly cleared it.

Ashour Scores Late to Secure the Win

In the second half, Al Hilal pushed harder to score. Their best chance came in the 64th minute when winger Ahmed Salem found himself one-on-one with Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy but failed to score. Al Ahly held on and scored the winning goal ten minutes before the end. Substitute Taher Mohamed Taher sent a well-placed ball into the box, and Ashour finished it off with skill.

Despite Al Hilal pushing in the final minutes and eight minutes added for stoppage time, Al Ahly kept their lead. Ahmed Reda nearly scored again in injury time, but Fofana made a quick save to keep the score from increasing.

Al Ahly, Esperance, Sundowns all set for Intriguing second leg CAF Champions League ties
by Football Sierra Leone

Al Ahly, Esperance, Sundowns all set for Intriguing second leg CAF Champions League ties

The CAF Champions League semi-finals are on the line Tuesday as four teams look to overcome deficits, while others aim to protect slim leads in quarter-finals are entering a critical phase with second-leg matchups set to determine who advances to the final four of Africa’s top club tournament.

Sundowns up against tough Esperance

Mamelodi Sundowns heads into a challenging match against Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis with a narrow 1-0 lead. Coach Miguel Cardoso’s squad needs to stay firm to avoid last season’s semi-final disappointments.

Key players include Namibian forward Peter Shalulile and Brazilian playmaker Lucas Ribeiro. Sundowns will rely on their experience against a determined Esperance team aiming for their fifth Champions League title.

Under coach Maher Kanzari, they seek to turn the deficit around, with star player Youcef Belaïli expected to lead their attack. The Tunisian crowd will be a crucial motivator as Esperance looks to make a comeback.

MC Alger seeks revenge against Orlando Pirates

MC Alger faces a tough challenge after losing 1-0 to Orlando Pirates in the opening match in Algiers. The return leg in South Africa presents a significant test for the Algerians, who now must produce a strong away performance to remain in the competition.

Coach José Riveiro’s Pirates are the favorites for the second leg in Johannesburg.

The Buccaneers displayed solid defense in the first encounter, and fans hope to see players like Evidence Makgopa return to scoring form or potentially witness a surprising comeback from Monnapule Saleng, who recently resumed training after an extended absence. MC Alger will aim to harness their belief and character to defy the expectations away from home and turn the tie in their favor.

Pyramids FC are ready but cautious in Morocco

Egypt’s Pyramids FC holds a strong lead in the quarter-finals after a 4-1 victory over Morocco’s Royal Army in Cairo. The team’s attacking trio, consisting of Ibrahim Adel, Ramadan Sobhi, and Fiston Mayele, played a key role.

Coach Krunoslav Jurcic aims to secure their advancement in the upcoming match in Rabat. Despite the setback, Royal Army’s coach, Alexandre Santos, remains hopeful for a comeback on home ground. The match is taking place amid tensions between the clubs due to complaints over fan restrictions and stadium access.

Al Ahly cautious of an upset as Al Hilal prepares for an ambush in Nouakchott.

Al Ahly holds a 1-0 lead against Al Hilal ahead of their second-leg match in Nouakchott, due to security issues in Sudan. Coach Marcel Koller aims for improved offensive play from players like Achraf Bencharki, Imam Ashour, and Wissam Abu Ali, while veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy anchors the defense. 

Cote d'Ivoire down Mali to win Group D and reach U-17 World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cote d’Ivoire, Mali qualify for quarter-finals and FIFA U17 World Cup  

Cote d’Ivoire showed a strong performance on Monday by defeating Mali 4-2 in their final Group D match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

With this result, Cote d’Ivoire finished first in the group with seven points, while Mali ended with six points. Despite the loss, Mali had already qualified for the quarter-finals and the World Cup thanks to earlier wins against Angola and the Central African Republic.

This result allowed them to take first place and second places in the group and secure a spot in the quarter-finals and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Alynho Haïdara shined for Cote d’Ivoire, scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes—first from open play and then from a penalty kick. Moïse Diarrassouba added a third goal with a great finish just before halftime, giving Cote d’Ivoire a solid 3-0 lead.

Seydou Dembélé scored for Mali during first-half stoppage time. Although Mali got a chance to score again with a penalty in the second half, Dembélé’s shot was saved by the Ivorian goalie. Ndjicoura Bomba later made it 3-2 with a strong shot in the 69th minute.

However, any chance of a comeback ended in added time when Broulaye Cissé scored a spectacular long-range goal to make it 4-2 and secure the win.

In another match, Angola won 6-1 against the Central African Republic but did not advance to the quarter-finals; however, they will get a chance to play in the World Cup playoffs as one of the best third-placed teams.

Burkina Faso through to FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar with win over South Africa
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso through to U17 World Cup in Qatar with win over South Africa

Burkina Faso completed a perfect group stage at the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday, finishing top of Group B with nine points to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

Despite the loss, South Africa secured second place in the group, ensuring their advancement to the quarter-finals and a significant spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

As a resu;t, both Burkina Faso and South Africa join Zambia and host Morocco in the quarter finals.

After a goalless first half at Stade Larbi Zaouli, Burkina Faso took control in the second half. Issouf Bara opened the scoring in the 65th minute, slotting home from close range after Asharaf Tapsoba provided a clever headed assist.

South Africa had their opportunities early in the match, including a first-half penalty awarded via VAR, but Neo Bohloko’s spot kick was saved by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Ali Koné in the 26th minute. This moment proved to be a turning point, as the West Africans gained confidence afterward.

Asharaf Tapsoba sealed the victory with an impressive strike from distance in the 89th minute, finding the bottom corner with a precise finish, ensuring that Burkina Faso completed the group stage unbeaten and without conceding a goal in open play.

South Africa had attempts from Bohloko and Emile Witbooi but struggled to break through against a well-organized Burkina Faso defense. The result means Burkina Faso finished with a maximum of nine points, while South Africa ended with four, advancing thanks to their earlier results against Egypt and Cameroon.

Both teams will now shift their focus to the quarter-finals and the pursuit of continental glory.

All four group winners and runners-up from the continental competition are guaranteed a ticket to the U-17 World Cup. The four third-place teams will enter a play-off to determine CAF’s final two representatives.