Defending champions Pyramids FC tightened their grip on Group A of the CAF Champions League after a commanding 3–0 victory over Morocco’s RS Berkane in Cairo on Sunday, a result that leaves them on the brink of qualification for the quarter-finals.

The Egyptian side produced a composed and clinical display at the Air Defence Stadium, asserting their authority from the outset to move clear at the summit of the group and underline their growing stature in Africa’s premier club competition.

Pyramids set the tone early and were rewarded in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez, popularly known as Zalaka, powered home a close-range header following a precise delivery from Nasser Maher. It was a goal that reflected the champions’ sharpness and intent, with Maher’s influence evident throughout the contest.

After the interval, Berkane attempted to mount a response, but their efforts failed to seriously test goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy. Pyramids, well organised and tactically disciplined, continued to dictate the tempo while exploiting spaces on the counter-attack.

The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Nasser Maher crowned an impressive performance by scoring his first goal in a Pyramids shirt. Picking up a quick transition initiated by Zalaka, Maher finished confidently from inside the penalty area to double the lead and effectively extinguish Berkane’s hopes of a comeback.

Further gloss was added to the scoreline six minutes later as Ahmed Atef, nicknamed Qatta, struck the third goal in the 80th minute to cap a dominant evening for the home side.

The victory lifts Pyramids to 10 points from four matches, three clear of second-placed Berkane, leaving the Egyptian champions firmly in control of Group A and on the verge of sealing a place in the last eight. Berkane remain on seven points, but their qualification hopes are now under pressure, with Zambia’s Power Dynamos closing in as the battle for the group’s second qualifying spot intensifies.

For Pyramids, the result represents another emphatic statement of intent as they continue their title defence, blending attacking flair with growing tactical maturity at a crucial stage of the competition.

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The tide continued to turn against Rivers United in the CAF Champions League as Zambia’s Power Dynamos claimed their first victory of Group A with a gritty 1–0 away win, tightening the race for qualification and further complicating the Nigerian side’s campaign.

In a contest defined by discipline and moments rather than dominance, the decisive breakthrough arrived five minutes after the restart.

Midfielder Kundwani Chiboni timed his run to perfection to latch onto a well-weighted pass from Prince Mumba before calmly slotting past the goalkeeper, silencing the home crowd and swinging momentum firmly in the visitors’ favour.

Rivers United had gone into the match seeking their first win of the group stage and showed encouraging spells of possession in the opening half. However, their build-up play yielded little end product, as Power Dynamos sat compact, closed down spaces intelligently and limited clear chances in the final third.

The goal forced the hosts to alter their approach, pushing more players forward in search of an equaliser. Waves of pressure followed during an intense second half, but each attacking move was met by an organised Power Dynamos defence and a composed goalkeeping performance that kept the slender advantage intact.

Despite late pressure from Rivers United, clear-cut opportunities proved elusive, and the Zambian champions expertly managed the closing stages to secure a vital away victory.

The result lifts Power Dynamos to four points in Group A, keeping them firmly in the qualification conversation as they begin to gather momentum.

For Rivers United, the flow continues to ebb: rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point from four matches, their hopes of progression are now hanging by a thread as the group heads into its decisive phase.

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Algerian champions Mouloudia Club of Algiers reignited their CAF Champions League campaign after recording their first victory of the group stage with a controlled 2–0 win over DR Congo side St Éloi Lupopo on Sunday evening.

Second-half goals from Khelif Merwan and Zakaria Naidji secured all three points for MC Alger in a Matchday 4 Group C encounter, lifting the Algerians back into contention in what remains a tightly contested group.

The opening half was a cautious affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances as midfield battles dictated the tempo. MC Alger, however, emerged with renewed purpose after the break and were rewarded in the 53rd minute when Merwan broke the deadlock, finishing calmly after sustained pressure to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Lupopo attempted to mount a response, but opportunities were few and far between against a disciplined Algerian defence that kept the Congolese side largely at arm’s length as the contest wore on.

The home side made the result safe eight minutes from time. Naidji struck in the 82nd minute, exploiting space in the final third to double the advantage and effectively extinguish any hopes of a late comeback from the visitors.

The victory moves MC Alger up to four points in Group C, placing them third in the standings on goal difference, just ahead of Lupopo, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table after another difficult outing on the road.

At the summit of the group, the Sudanese side Al Hilal Omdurman continues to set the pace with eight points, holding a three-point cushion over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as the race for the quarter-finals intensifies.

With two group matches remaining, MC Alger’s maiden win of the campaign breathes new life into their qualification hopes. At the same time, Lupopo now face an uphill battle to revive their continental challenge.

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