African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly cancelled each other out in a tense 0-0 draw in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

The highly anticipated clash between the South African champions and Egypt’s record 14-time title holders produced few clear chances but plenty of tactical intrigue, as both sides looked to gain a psychological edge ahead of the decisive second leg in Cairo.

Sundowns entered the match with hopes of capitalising on home advantage, but Al Ahly’s defensive resilience and experience in high-stakes continental showdowns proved decisive in keeping the hosts at bay.

The home side dominated possession early on and looked to assert themselves with efforts from Teboho Mokoena and Lucas Ribeiro Costa. However, they struggled to break through a disciplined Al Ahly defence marshalled by Mostafa Al Aash and Yasser Ibrahim.

Al Ahly came closest to scoring just before half-time when Nejc Gradisar saw his header crash off the post after being set up by Emam Ashour. Sundowns responded with efforts from Marcelo Allende and Peter Shalulile, but neither side could find the cutting edge in the final third.

Substitutions in the second half saw both coaches—Miguel Cardoso for Sundowns and Marcel Koller for Al Ahly—try to tilt the balance in their favour. Arthur Sales and Iqraam Rayners were introduced for the hosts, while Achraf Bencharki and Akram Tawfik came on for the visitors.

But the breakthrough never arrived, with both goalkeepers—Ronwen Williams and Mohamed El Shenawy—largely untested despite moments of attacking promise.

The draw leaves the tie finely poised ahead of next weekend’s return leg at the Cairo International Stadium, a venue where Sundowns have traditionally struggled.

Al Ahly, unbeaten at home in the CAF Champions League since 2021, will now fancy their chances of securing a place in the final as they chase a record-extending 15th continental crown.

For Sundowns, who last lifted the trophy in 2016, the goalless first leg means they must do what they have failed to do in previous visits to Cairo—win.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Pyramids FC made history on Tuesday night by qualifying for their first-ever CAF Champions League semi-final, edging out Morocco’s FAR Rabat despite a 2-0 defeat in the second leg at the Stade d’Honneur in Meknes.

The Egyptian side progressed 4-3 on aggregate after their emphatic 4-1 win in Cairo last week gave them a crucial cushion heading into the away leg.

That first-leg advantage proved decisive, as the Royal Army fell just one goal short of completing an incredible comeback in front of their home fans.

The Moroccan Royal Army started fast, hoping to wipe off a three-goal deficit. They nearly did, but fell just short.

Backed by a lively crowd in Meknes, the Moroccan outfit came out firing. Youssef El-Fahli opened the scoring in just the seventh minute, raising hopes of an early resurgence.

The early strike injected confidence into the Royal Army’s play as they surged forward in waves, firing full cylinders as they were determined to erase the deficit.

Pyramids, however, responded swiftly. Defender Mohamed Hamdy nearly silenced the crowd with a powerful header in the 12th minute, only to be denied by goalkeeper Hamza Hayani, who tipped it wide.

Despite the mounting pressure, Pyramids remained composed at the back, with veteran goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy delivering a composed performance to keep his side’s aggregate lead intact through the first half.

Second-half tension and late drama

The restart saw FAR Rabat players maintain their momentum. El-Fahli had a golden opportunity to grab a second just minutes in, but El-Shenawy was equal to the challenge once again, making two vital saves in quick succession.

The breakthrough finally came in the 82nd minute when substitute Joel Villa struck the second goal, setting up a nervy finish.

The Moroccans continued to push, and in the 93rd minute, they were inches away from a third when Zahzouh’s free-kick narrowly missed the target.

Pyramids held on through five minutes of added time, showing grit and resilience to protect their narrow aggregate lead and book a place in the last four of the continent’s premier club competition.

The Egyptian club will now await the winner of the other quarter-final between Orlando Pirates and MC Alger. Pirates hold a slender 1-0 advantage heading into the second leg on Wednesday.

For Pyramids FC, this is a landmark achievement in their short but ambitious history. Having risen rapidly through Egyptian football in recent years, the club now finds itself among the continent’s elite with a shot at continental glory.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

A mouth-watering semi-final duel has been set up in the CAF Champions League as Egypt’s Al Ahly will face South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ahly, cup holders, secured their place in the semi-finals after completing a double over Al Hilal with a 1-0 second-leg win at the Sheikh Bedia Stadium in Mauritania on Tuesday evening.

Having already won the first leg by the same scoreline in Cairo, the defending champions delivered another disciplined performance away from home to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory.

Al Ahly will now turn their attention to a blockbuster semi-final showdown against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who overcame Esperance de Tunis in their own quarter-final tie.

The two clubs have forged a tense rivalry in recent seasons, and their upcoming encounter is set to draw continental attention once again.

Since 2011, both have met 13 times with Sundowns winning five of the encounters, while Ahly won four. The remaining four duels were drawn.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H