Pyramids FC put one foot in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League with a commanding 4-1 victory over FAR Rabat in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Tuesday night at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.

The Egyptian side stormed into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 40 minutes, with Congolese striker Fiston Mayele and winger Ibrahim Adel in inspired form.

Mayele opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, finishing off Mostafa Fathi’s assist, before doubling the lead in the 12th with a close-range finish after a cutback from Adel.

Adel got on the scoresheet himself in the 38th minute, calmly slotting home from the left side of the box after being released by Ramadan Sobhi.

The Moroccan visitors responded just before the break through Abdelfattah Hadraf, who finished from the centre of the box following Youssef El Fahli’s pass.

But any hopes of a comeback were dashed midway through the second half when Adel added his second and Pyramids’ fourth, poking the ball past the keeper after being teed up by Blati Touré in the 67th minute.

Despite late pressure and several changes from FAR Rabat, the hosts saw out the match comfortably and even hit the bar in stoppage time through Fathi.

The dominant win gives Pyramids FC a three-goal cushion ahead of the second leg in Morocco, leaving FAR Rabat with a mountain to climb if they are to overturn the deficit and reach the last four.

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Mohamed Hani’s first-half strike was enough to give Ahly a 1-0 victory over Sudan’s Al-Hilal in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday at Cairo International Stadium.

The record 12-time African champions, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive continental title, ended a three-match winless run with a disciplined performance in front of their home crowd.

Hani scored the winner in the 11th minute, firing a powerful left-footed shot into the net after Al-Hilal goalkeeper Issa Fofana failed to hold onto Emam Ashour’s curling cross from the right flank.

Ahly started brightly, nearly opening the scoring earlier through Achraf Bencharki, whose header inside the box was well saved by Fofana in the 8th minute. The home side continued to dominate possession, with Moroccan left-back Yahya Attiat-Allah a frequent outlet on the left.

Emam Ashour, a constant threat, missed a golden opportunity to double Ahly’s lead in the 15th minute when he went one-on-one with the keeper, only to be denied again by Fofana.

Despite their early control, the Egyptian giants were unable to add to their lead, and Al-Hilal gradually grew into the game. Jean Claude Girumugisha had the visitors’ best chance just before the break, but his low shot from inside the area was comfortably handled by Mohamed El Shennawy.

Al-Hilal, forced to play their home fixtures in Mauritania due to the conflict in Sudan, showed resilience and commitment but struggled to create clear chances. Coach Florent Ibenge made a double substitution just past the hour mark to inject fresh energy, introducing Adama Coulibaly and Abdelrazig Omer.

Girumugisha came close again in the 77th minute, dragging a shot narrowly wide from the right side of the box, while Ahly substitute Nejc Gradisar tested Al-Hilal with a low effort that drifted past the post.

Late yellow cards for Rabia and Omar Kamal reflected the intensity of the closing stages, but Ahly held firm through six minutes of added time.

The win puts Ahly in a favourable position heading into the return leg, as they chase a record-extending 13th CAF Champions League crown.

Al-Hilal, who topped their group despite challenging circumstances, will need a stronger offensive display in the second leg if they are to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2015.

-Ahram

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Mamelodi Sundowns’ second  CAF Champions League title hopes were agonisingly dashed in the semi-finals last season, with the man who orchestrated the heartache now sitting at the helm of the club that is aiming to emulate the 2016 success under then coach, Pitso Mosimane.

The South Africans have another chance at going all the way this season after the quarter-final draw of the competition saw them paired with Espérance Sportive de Tunis – former club of Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso who guided the Tunisians to a silver medal last season.

The north versus south duel will see the South Africans playing host to the first leg on 2 April, before travelling up north a few days later for the return leg in Tunis on 8 April.

Reacting to facing his former side in the quarter-finals, the Portuguese tactician said he was aware of the magnitude of the opponent and the weight of the fixture, but emphasised the importance of focusing on his sides’ strengths.

“The team changed a little bit now in January. After I left Espérance, I didn’t watch anything regarding how they play. Obviously, I follow the results but not the games. I know they are doing well.

“They are a team with experience and has been reaching the last stages of the Champions League and that has won it several times and always has the will to do well but I think we should worry about ourselves and do well in the two games” cautioned the coach.

“Obviously there are emotions that come to me in the moment. We performed very well while we were there but for the moment, my emotions are with Sundowns and to do well here.

“I know it will be tight no doubt. Last year was very tight but I believe it will be beautiful to see. Both teams play good football, both teams are positive in how they approach the game.

“The ambience in Tunis for the Champions League is beautiful and I hope that it will energise us to do well but also here it is beautiful, so I hope our fans will fill our stadiums and give us the extra energy to get the result” concluded Cardoso.

The CAF Champions League draw produced other intriguing and unpredictable ties, which will see record champions, Al Ahly SC taking on Al Hilal, Pyramids FC facing AS FAR as well as MC Alger against Orlando Pirates.

Following the quarter-final draw, the semi-final line-up was also determined.

The winner of the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance will face either Al Ahly or Al Hilal,  while the victor between MC Alger and Orlando Pirates will meet the winner of the Pyramids versus AS FAR tie.

-CAF 

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