Pyramids FC Extend Dominance, Book CAF CL Round of 32 Berth
5 October 2025
First Half
Pyramids FC, the reigning CAF Champions League champions, extended their advantage over APR FC in the second leg of the qualifiers with a 3-0 victory at Cairo's Defense Stadium on Sunday evening.
They had already secured a 2-0 win in Rwanda in the first leg, thanks to goals from Congolese star Fiston Mayele, setting up a comfortable aggregate result.
In the return, Pyramids struck through Mustafa Abdul-Roof "Ziko" in the 43rd minute as the hosts controlled the tempo from the outset, while APR FC pressed to disrupt the rhythm but offered limited threat.
Second Half
Ahmed Atef "Cat" doubled the lead in the 61st minute with a precise finish from a well-placed cross, followed by Mohamed Hamdy's strike in the 63rd minute after a long ball from Blati Touré.
Under coach Krunoslav Jurčić, the lineup was rotated to rest the squad after taking a comfortable lead, with substitutions introducing fresh legs as the margin grew.
There were moments of pressure and chances for both sides, but the Guarda of the Kenyan? No — the home defense, led by goalkeeper Ahmed Shenawei, held firm as APR faded and the Egyptians sealed the win with confidence.
Round of 32
The victory books Pyramids into the CAF Champions League Round of 32, where they will face Ethio Insurance FC in what promises another tough continental test. The first legs are scheduled for October 17-19, with second legs slated for October 24-26.
In addition to Pyramids' progression, the Round of 32 draw features a slate of ties across the continent as teams jostle for knockout-stage football.
Punchline 1: If football had a sniper, it would be aiming for the top corner every time—Pyramids found it and kept the crosshair steady all night.
Punchline 2: Tonight the scoreboard was so loud you could hear the net singing from Cairo to Kigali. Even the clock took a bow.
