CAF Champions League
Rivers United’s Conquerors, Pyramids Rocked by Four-Year Ban on Star Winger Ramadan Sobhi
Fresh from dismantling Rivers United 3–0 in their CAF Champions League opener last weekend, Egyptian champions Pyramids FC have been hit by a major setback as their influential winger Ramadan Sobhi has been slammed with a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over an anti-doping violation.
The Egyptian Anti-Doping Organisation confirmed on Wednesday that the 28-year-old, who played a crucial role in Pyramids’ first-ever CAF Champions League title last season, has been sanctioned after CAS upheld an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“We have received an official letter confirming Ramadan Sobhi’s four-year suspension in a doping case,” said Hazem Khamis, head of the Egyptian Anti-Doping Organisation.
According to the body, the punishment stems from doping allegations and suspected sample tampering, an issue Khamis described as “unprecedented in Egypt.”
Sobhi, a former English Premier League player with Stoke City and Huddersfield Town and capped 37 times by Egypt, has not publicly commented.
His lawyer told local media that an appeal to the Swiss Federal Court is being prepared in a final bid to overturn the ruling.
The suspension is a major blow for Pyramids, who had relied heavily on Sobhi during last season’s continental run and expected him to play a key role again this campaign.
Second Legal Battle: Academic Fraud Case Deepens Woes
Compounding the club’s troubles, Sobhi, according to an Egyptian publication, Kingfut, also remains in custody over a separate academic fraud and forgery case, with a Giza criminal court ruling that he be detained until at least December 30.
The forward is accused—alongside three others—of forging exam documents, falsifying attendance records, and paying a proxy to sit examinations on his behalf at a tourism and hotels institute.
Though Sobhi has denied all wrongdoing, the allegations have dragged him into one of the most high-profile academic fraud cases in recent Egyptian sports history.
He was initially granted bail after paying LE100,000 but was later arrested at Cairo International Airport upon his return from Istanbul when an earlier in absentia ruling triggered a warrant for his detention.
Pyramids Yet to Respond
Pyramids FC, who are already dealing with injuries to key players, have not released any official statement on either the doping sanction or the academic fraud case.
The timing is particularly damaging, coming just days after their convincing victory over Rivers United in Cairo as they began their CAF Champions League title defence.
With Sobhi now facing a four-year absence from football and a looming court trial, Pyramids’ early-season momentum has been overshadowed by the uncertain future of one of their most influential players.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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