It was a disappointing weekend for Egyptian football on the continental stage as all three representatives—Pyramids FC, Al Ahly and Al Masry—crashed out of their respective CAF interclub competitions at the quarter-final stage.

Pyramids FC Fall to AS FAR

Defending champions Pyramids FC were eliminated from the CAF Champions League after a 2-1 home defeat to Morocco’s AS FAR at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium.

Having secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat, the Egyptian side entered the return leg with a slight advantage but were undone by a clinical Moroccan performance.

Reda Slim gave AS FAR an early lead in the ninth minute, while Mohamed Rabie Hrimat doubled the advantage early in the second half. Although Fiston Mayele pulled one back in the 64th minute, Pyramids could not find the equaliser as AS FAR advanced 3-2 on aggregate.

The visitors maintained defensive discipline under sustained pressure to seal a semi-final berth, where they will face either RS Berkane or Al-Hilal.

Ahly Stunned by Esperance in Cairo

In a major upset, record African champions Al Ahly were knocked out following a 3-2 home defeat to Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Cairo International Stadium.

Already trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Ahly exited 4-2 on aggregate, marking their first failure to reach the semi-finals since 2019.

Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Ahly an early lead, but Esperance responded strongly in the second half through Florian Danho and Mohamed Tougai, who converted from the penalty spot. Substitute Marwan Othman briefly restored parity late on, but Hamza Jelassi struck a stoppage-time winner to seal a famous victory.

The result also marked Esperance’s first-ever CAF Champions League win over Ahly on Egyptian soil.

Masry Exit on Away Goals

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Al Masry were eliminated after a goalless draw against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.

Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Suez, the Port Said side were knocked out on the away goals rule.

Despite a disciplined defensive display and moments of attacking promise, Masry were unable to find the breakthrough, with CR Belouizdad advancing to the semi-finals.

A Rare Continental Setback

The triple elimination marks a rare setback for Egyptian clubs, traditionally dominant forces in African competitions.

For Ahly, the defeat ended a consistent run of semi-final appearances, while Pyramids’ title defence came to an abrupt halt. Masry, meanwhile, bowed out at the same stage for the second consecutive season.

Zamalek will attempt to scale through this Sunday in their quarter-final second leg match on the CAF Confederation Cup against the Congolese side, AS Otoho. The Egyptian side earned a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville.

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Holders Pyramids and record champions Al Ahly both crashed out of the African Champions League quarter‑finals on ​Saturday, losing to Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and Tunisian Esperance respectively ‌on a bleak night for Egyptian soccer.

Pyramids’ 3-2 aggregate loss ended their title defence despite a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat. The Egyptians won their first African Champions League crown ​last June, beating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Rida Slim put the visitors ​ahead in the ninth minute at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium before ⁠Mohamed Rabie Hrimat doubled the lead with a 54th‑minute header. Fiston Mayele halved ​the deficit in the 62nd minute but the Egyptians could not find the equaliser ​that would have sent the tie straight to penalties.

“This is a historic win and a historic qualification for the club,” forward Youssef El Fahli told beIN Sports. “We have the determination to ​fight for the title this season and, God willing, we’ll bring home the ​club’s second continental crown.”

Royal Armed Forces will face fellow Moroccans Renaissance Berkane or Sudan’s Al-Hilal in ‌the semi-finals, ⁠hoping to move a step closer to a second continental crown after winning the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1985 when they beat AS Bilima (now AS Dragons) of then Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo.

Al Ahly, the record 12‑times ​African champions, took a ​10th‑minute lead through ⁠Mahmoud Trezeguet but Esperance levelled in the 68th minute when Florian Danho drove in from outside the box past goalkeeper ​Mostafa Shobeir.

The Tunisian champions went ahead in the 78th when ​Mohamed Amine ⁠Tougai converted a penalty. Although Ahly drew level at 2-2 in the 84th minute via an own goal by Hamza Jelassi from a Marwan Othman header, Jelassi redeemed ⁠himself ​with a 94‑minute winner from a Youssef Msakni ​corner to complete a second-leg 3-2 victory for a 4-2 win on aggregate.

Esperance will face Mamelodi Sundowns or ​Mali’s Stade Malien in the semi‑finals.

-Reuters

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Africa’s top club sides will battle for supremacy this weekend as the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 season get underway with four high-profile first-leg encounters across the continent.

With the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) announcing an increase in prize money, with the winners now set to receive $6 million, the stakes have risen significantly for the eight teams still in contention.

Following a thrilling group stage that delivered several dramatic contests, the competition now enters the knockout phase, where Africa’s football giants must navigate the fine margins that often define success or elimination.

Sundowns Face Historic Challenge from Stade Malien

South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the 2016 title, begin their quarter-final campaign at home when they host Mali’s Stade Malien at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Friday evening.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

Sundowns, runners-up in last season’s competition, are seasoned campaigners in the latter stages of African club football and will be aiming to secure a strong advantage before the return leg.

Their opponents, however, arrive with renewed ambition. Stade Malien have reached the knockout rounds of the competition for the first time since 1985, marking a historic return to the continental spotlight.

Pyramids Seek Repeat Success Against AS FAR

Another intriguing encounter on Friday will see Egyptian champions Pyramids FC travel to Morocco to face AS FAR at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.

The defending champions have been one of the standout performers in the competition so far. Pyramids amassed 16 points from a possible 18 in the group stage — the highest total among all teams — and were also the only club to reach double figures in goals scored (14).

The tie revives memories of last season’s quarter-final meeting between the two sides. On that occasion, Pyramids secured a commanding 4–1 victory in the first leg, although AS FAR responded with a 2–0 home win in the return fixture.

Debutants Berkane Meet Experienced Al Hilal

Moroccan side RS Berkane, current holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, will host Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman on Saturday at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.

While Berkane are competing in the CAF Champions League for the first time, Al Hilal arrive with greater experience, having reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.

The two clubs have met only once before in continental competition, during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup, when Berkane advanced with a 3–0 aggregate victory.

North African Heavyweights Clash in Tunisia

The final quarter-final first leg promises to be one of the weekend’s most compelling encounters as Egypt’s Al Ahly SC, the competition’s most successful side with 12 titles, travels to Tunisia to face fierce rivals Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

The match will take place at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades on Sunday night.

The two clubs share a long and intense continental rivalry, having met in numerous decisive fixtures over the years. Their most recent clash came in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League final, where Al Ahly triumphed 1–0 on aggregate to lift the trophy.

Return Legs Next Weekend

The second legs of the quarter-final ties are scheduled for the weekend of 21–22 March, when the four semi-finalists of Africa’s premier club competition will be determined.

With continental pride, lucrative prize money and a place in the final four at stake, the stage is set for a weekend of high-intensity football across Africa.

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