Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC will lock horns once more in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, in Cairo, on Sunday evening.
Kick-off is 7pm SA time.
Sundowns drew 1-1 with Pyramids last week at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, as the visitors bagged a crucial away goal.
Previously, in four two-legged finals involving a South African club which failed to win the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been pulled off. That of course came 30 years ago when Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 at home and then beat ASEC Mimosa 1-0 away in the return leg.
The biggest night in African club football! 🌍
Pyramids FC take on Mamelodi Sundowns for the ultimate glory, for the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL title! Who takes it? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HXcCJy6eaQ
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 31, 2025
Sundowns Face Historical Challenge
Another piece of history not in Sundowns’ favour is that Egyptian clubs have won all three previous home games against SA teams in Champions League finals.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, as Pyramids have never won the Champions League before, while Sundowns lifted the trophy in 2016.
Sundowns, though, are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Egyptian teams, and they have also not lost their last nine games across all competitions.
Sundowns’ most recent defeat came against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final on April 13.
Predicted lineups:
Pyramids FC: Ahmed El-Shenawy; Mohamed Chibi, Mahmoud Marei, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed Hamdy; Mohanad Lasheen, Blati Toure; Hussein El Sayed, Walid El Karti, Ibrahim Adel; Fiston Mayele.
Mamelodi Sundowns: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Grant Kekana, Mosa Lebusa, Aubrey Modiba; Marcelo Allende, Teboho Mokoena; Lucas Ribeiro, Iqraam Rayners, Tashreeq Matthews; Peter Shalulile.
@Michael_Sherman
