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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Pyramids FC striker Ahmed Atef El Sayed has been named CAF Interclub Player of the Week after his sensational hat-trick powered the defending champions to a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United in their CAF Champions’ League Group A opener in Cairo.

The 26-year-old forward produced one of the standout performances of Matchday 1, showcasing lethal finishing, intelligent movement and big-match temperament as Pyramids began their title defence in emphatic fashion.

Rivers United had held firm in a tight and tactical first half, but Atef broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, reacting quickest in a crowded six-yard box to steer home from close range. The goal settled Pyramids and shifted momentum decisively in favour of the North Africans.

Just five minutes later, Atef struck again—this time with the pick of his goals. Rising above the defence, he powered a towering header into the top-right corner from Karim Hafez’s precise cross, underlining his growing pedigree as one of the continent’s most dangerous penalty-box strikers.

He completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, guiding a composed right-footed strike into the bottom-left corner after an incisive pass from Mohamed Reda. Each goal demonstrated a different dimension of his finishing ability and highlighted why he has become indispensable to Pyramids’ attacking blueprint.

With Atef leading the charge, Pyramids controlled the final stages of the match, securing a win that places them level on points with Morocco’s RS Berkane at the top of Group A.

His heroics not only delivered a perfect start for the Egyptian champions but also reaffirmed his rising status among Africa’s elite attackers. CAF’s recognition of his performance underscores his influence as Pyramids seek to become the first club in over a decade to win back-to-back Champions League titles.

Eyes on the Next Challenge

Atef will once again be central to Pyramids’ ambitions when they travel to face Power Dynamos in their second Group A fixture on Saturday. With his confidence soaring and his form peaking at the right moment, the striker is expected to play a decisive role as the champions continue their pursuit of continental history.

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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC began their title defence in emphatic fashion on Friday, defeating Nigeria’s Rivers United 3–0 in their opening Group B match, courtesy of a sensational second-half hat-trick by Egyptian forward Ahmed Atef El Sayed.

The fixture, featuring two teams tipped as strong contenders in the group that also includes Morocco’s RS Berkane and Zambia’s Power Dynamos, lived up to its billing—at least for the Egyptians, who seized control after a tight first half.

Rivers United produced a disciplined defensive display in the opening 45 minutes, occasionally threatening on the counter while keeping the champions at bay. But their organisation collapsed after the restart, and Pyramids capitalised with ruthless precision.

Ahmed Atef—whose shirt carries the name Ahmed Atef—broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a composed finish. The striker struck again just five minutes later, doubling Pyramids’ lead and deflating Rivers United’s earlier resistance. He completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, capping a brilliant individual performance and sealing a dominant victory for the Egyptians.

The result leaves Rivers United with early work to do in a competitive Group B, while Pyramids underline once again why they are considered one of Africa’s rising football powerhouses.

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