It was a painful evening for Egyptian football fans as both representatives, Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, were eliminated from the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after defeats to Tunisia’s Espérance and Morocco’s AS FAR, respectively, in matches held in Cairo.
Espérance secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Al Ahly at Cairo International Stadium, confirming their place in the semi-finals. The Tunisian side had already edged the first leg 1-0 at Stade de Radès, sealing qualification with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Al Ahly failed to deliver their usual continental performance, wasting several clear chances in the first half and managing only one goal through Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet.” In the second half, Espérance took control and netted three goals, while Al Ahly added a second, but it was not enough to avoid a 3-2 defeat.
Earlier in the day, Morocco’s AS FAR pulled off a major upset by eliminating Pyramids FC with a 2-1 win at Air Defense Stadium in Cairo. The Moroccan side advanced with a 3-2 aggregate score after the first leg had ended 1-1.
AS FAR opened the scoring early in the 9th minute through Reda Slim, whose powerful strike from outside the box beat goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy. The second goal came in the 54th minute when Mohamed Rabie Hrimat headed home a corner delivered by Slim. Pyramids responded in the 60th minute, with Congolese striker Fiston Mayele reducing the deficit.
Pyramids dominated large stretches of the game, particularly in the first half, creating several clear opportunities. Mahmoud Zalaka came close with a header that was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper. Controversy arose when the referee declined to award a penalty to Pyramids despite a VAR review.
In the second half, Pyramids pushed forward aggressively, making attacking substitutions in a bid to equalize. However, missed chances—including a glaring opportunity in the 76th minute—proved costly, as AS FAR’s solid defense held firm.
With these results, both Al Ahly and Pyramids exit the CAF Champions League at the quarter-final stage, marking a disappointing night for Egyptian football as its representatives bow out of the competition on home soil.
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