Pyramids survive tense finish to be crowned African champions
Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids triumphed 3-2 on aggregate after the first leg was drawn 1-1 in Pretoria last weekend.
Fiston Mayele scored after 23 minutes and Ahmed Samy on 56 minutes for the Egyptian outfit before Iqraam Rayners reduced the arrears in the 75th minute.
Listless for much of the match, Sundowns pressed in the closing stages, but the second goal that would have given them overall victory on away goals proved elusive.
Pleas by Pyramids, who normally attract crowds of just a few thousand, for support led to their 30,000-seat stadium being about half full for the second leg.
Both clubs made one change to the first-leg starting line-ups last weekend in Pretoria, where Walid el Karti headed an added-time equaliser after Lucas Ribeiro gave Sundowns an early second half lead.
Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic, a former Croatia midfielder, dropped forward Ibrahim Adel, scorer of six goals en route to the final, and promoted ex-English Premier League forward Ramadan Sobhi.
Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso left out Brazilian forward Arthur Sales and gave a starting place to midfielder Jayden Adams.
Cardoso is only the second coach after Argentine Oscar Fullone to reach consecutive Champions League finals with different clubs.
Fullone, who died in 2017 aged 78, guided ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast in 1998 and Raja Casablanca of Morocco the following year to victory in finals of the premier African club competition.
Mayele scores
Cardoso took Esperance of Tunisia to the 2024 final, which they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt with an own goal separating the sides.
A new Champions League trophy, unveiled before the first leg, was brought to the touchline at the 30 June Stadium by 48-year-old Nigerian legend and former Inter Milan and Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu.
On a warm, windy first day, both teams constantly surrendered possession cheaply before Pyramids took the lead when Mayele scored his ninth goal of the African campaign.
A cross by Ahmed Atef was partially cleared by Grant Kekana and Mayele pounced to slam a snap low shot across goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner of the net.
Tensions rose and the Somali referee yellow-carded Atef and Aubrey Modiba after the duo had an angry clash, leading with their heads.
Sundowns squandered a great chance in first half added time when Tashreeq Matthews broke through only to see his shot parried by the left leg of goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy.
It was the only time the Pretoria outfit threatened in the opening half despite having much more possession.
Pyramids struck again when Mohamed Chibi placed a free kick into the goalmouth and central defender Samy headed powerfully into the net.
It was the first goal for Samy in the 16-match Champions League campaign and he became the 19th Pyramids player to score in the competition this season.
Sundowns replied when a weak headed clearance offered Rayners a chance and he fired past El Shenawy from close range.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
India still on top in first Test despite Brook fifty for England
England were 327-5 at lunch on the third day, still 144 runs behind India's first-innings 471, which featured hundreds from captain Shubman Gil, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But Brook, caught off a Jasprit Bumrah no-ball when on nought in Saturday's last over and dropped Sunday by wicketkeeper Pant on 46, was still there on 57 not out. Jamie Smith (29 not out) had so far helped Brook add 51 in 12 overs for the sixth wicket. Brook's innings was the more important following the loss early Sunday of England century-maker Ollie Pope. England resumed on 209-3, 262 runs behind, after Pope had rescued them from the depths of 4-1 with a superb 100 not out after being dropped on 60. Brook got off the mark on his Yorkshire home ground by thrashing the fifth delivery of Sunday's play, from Prasidh Krishna, for four and next ball pulled the paceman for a soaring six. But Krishna then became the first member of India's attack other than outstanding fast bowler Bumrah to take a wicket this match, albeit with a loose delivery. England vice-captain Pope had added just six runs to his score when he tried to cut a short and wide ball from outside off stump only to get a thin edge to Pant. Pope's exit brought in England captain Ben Stokes, whose decision to field first after winning the toss in good batting conditions was criticised by ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan. Brook, meanwhile, treated Bumrah, one of the best bowlers in the world, with disdain when he advanced down the pitch and him through the covers for four. He then dished out similar treatment to Mohammed Siraj. But from around the wicket, fast bowler Siraj induced left-handed batsman Stokes, on 20, into pushing outside off stump at a ball that moved away slightly, with Pant holding a simple catch. Stokes, without a Test century for two years, threw his bat in the air in frustration as he walked off with England 276-5. One danger for Brook wast that he would run out of partners and Shardul Thakur had Smith (nine) given out lbw only for the batsman's review to indicate the ball would have missed leg stump. But Brook should have been out on 46 when he pushed forward defensively to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja only for Pant to drop the thin edge. It was not long before Brook completed a 65-ball fifty, including seven fours and a six -- the 26-year-old's 12th half century in a 26-Test career that also includes eight hundreds.
France 24
15 hours ago
- France 24
Olympic chief Kirsty Coventry's steeliness honed by hard knocks
Looming large on the horizon of the 41-year-old Zimbabwean -- the first woman and African to occupy the post of the most powerful single figure in sport -- is US President Donald Trump. With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, Trump will feature often on Coventry's agenda. Trump has not been shy in giving public dressing downs to world leaders -- notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. Judging by Coventry's initial response, after a crushing first-round victory in the presidential election in March, she may have Trump's measure. "I have been dealing with, let's say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old," she said, adding "communication will be key." Unlike Trump, though, Coventry embraces the word failure, for it helped forge her stellar career. "Everything's scary. Embrace that. You have to fail," Coventry told the swimming team at her American alma mater Auburn University last year. "I've learned the best lessons by failing, and I have failed at many things. Life has a really good way of humbling you." At the same time that steely resolve comes to the surface when winning is at stake. "I was banned from playing card games with the family, because they didn't like to deal with me when I lost," she said. A glance at Coventry's CV suggests failure in her life has been relative. Coventry, who had the Olympic rings tattooed on a leg after her first Games in 2000, is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and she has contributed seven of Zimbabwe's overall Games medals tally of eight. She has accrued domestic political experience, as she was Zimbabwe's Minister for Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation from 2019 to this year. That attracted some flak as she was serving in a government whose election in 2023 was declared to be "neither free nor fair" by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). "I don't think you can stand on the sidelines and scream and shout for change," she said in her defence. "I believe you have to be seated at the table to try and create it." Her record as a minister has been heavily criticised by the Zimbabwean arts community in particular. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose predecessor Robert Mugabe labelled Coventry "a golden girl" and awarded her $100,000 after she came back with a gold medal from Beijing in 2008, hit back. "Whoever was not impressed by her can appoint someone else when they become president," said the 82-year-old. 'Very hard times' In 2004, Coventry gave an insight into why she would later accept such a poisoned chalice and how whites in Zimbabwe have to perform a delicate balancing act. "Zimbabwe is my home," she said after returning to a heroine's parade after winning her first gold medal at the Athens Olympics. "It's where I was born. It's my culture. I will always represent Zimbabwe. Colour doesn't matter to me. "I think every country goes through bad years and good years." Coventry had a largely urban upbringing. Her parents Rob and Linn owned a chemicals firm in a suburb of Harare, but the farming evictions -- where predominantly white farm owners were forced off their lands in their early 2000s -- affected her too. "I have had very close family members and friends on farms who have gone through very hard times," said Coventry. Away from the controversies she has shown decisive leadership in dealing with Zimbabwean football chiefs and FIFA. She backed the government body Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) when it suspended the Zimbabwean Football Association (ZIFA) over allegations of fraud and sexual harassment of referees. FIFA has a zero tolerance policy of political interference in its associations and barred Zimbabwe from international football in February 2022. However, by September the same year they were back in the fold. A ZIFA official was later banned for five years for sexually harassing three female referees. Coventry said in 2023 that the process had been "hard, but it was worth it, to have a way forward that's going to benefit us as a country". Those tempted to mess with Coventry in the years to come have been duly warned.
France 24
15 hours ago
- France 24
Maro Itoje comes of age with Lions captaincy
Itoje captained England's Under-20s to a world title in 2014 and as he rose through the ranks it was clear the Saracens lock was no ordinary player. A constant threat at the breakdown, outstanding at the line-out and punishing in defence, the physically powerful Itoje had all the skills required of a modern-day flanker, a position where he won some of his early caps, as well as a second row. But he was also something of a throwback to English rugby's amateur era, showing an impressive ability to communicate. The young Itoje, the son of Nigerian parents, won a scholarship to the world-famous Harrow School -- whose former pupils include British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill. He excelled at school, going on to study politics at university in London before completing a business qualification alongside his rugby commitments. Itoje has amassed 93 England Test caps, winning three Six Nations trophies. He has also collected a mountain of silverware at club level, winning five Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups with Saracens. But despite his prowess on the pitch, former England coach Eddie Jones was not initially convinced that Itoje was cut out for leadership. In his book, "Leadership: Lessons From My Life In Rugby", published in 2021, the veteran Australian boss wrote: "I might be wrong, but I am not sure Maro is a future England captain. "He is going to be one of the great players, but he is very inward-looking. He drives himself rather than anyone else. He doesn't usually influence people off the field." Jones backtracked shortly after the book's publication, explaining that Itoje had matured rapidly, predicting he would be a future England skipper. 'Calm under pressure' Steve Borthwick took over from Jones in December 2022 but Owen Farrell was captain at the time and was succeeded by Jamie George. Itoje was finally handed the job in January this year at the ripe old age of 30. "Calm under pressure" were the words Borthwick used to describe his new skipper, citing Itoje's growing influence upon the rest of the squad. The new man made his mark, leading England to a second place in this season's Six Nations, and caught the eye of Lions boss Andy Farrell, the father of Owen. Itoje's rival for the Lions captaincy for the three-Test Australia tour, Ireland skipper Caelan Doris, misses out through injury. "As a two-time tourist (in 2017 and 2021), Maro fully understands what the Lions is all about and also the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test series this summer," said Farrell. Itoje, the first black captain of the Lions, spoke of the "tremendous honour" when he was named skipper. "I feel like I'm ready to do the role," he told Sky Sports. "I think I'm ready to do the job and I gain confidence from the quality of coaches we have, the quality of support staff we have and the quality of personnel we have within our squad." The lock has the task of getting the best out of the top players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in Australia and is clear about what he expects. "I want this Lions squad to be tough. I look at our forwards and I see a group of tough men," he said. "The Lions works when the players are selfless, so to make sure it's a successful tour we all have to be selfless and put the Lions at the forefront of everything we do." Itoje brushed off Friday's 28-24 warm-up defeat against Argentina in Dublin, saying his side will "live, learn and get better".
