Defending African Champions League champions Pyramids FC of Egypt claimed a valuable 1-0 away win against Power Dynamos in Zambia in their second game in the group stage.
It was Pyramid’s second straight win out of two, putting them atop Group A with six points, tied with RSB Berkane of Morocco.
The sole goal in the match in Ndola in Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday came in the 51st minute when Mohamed Reda Bobo found the back of the net, handing the reigning champions three crucial points on the road.
Power Dynamos, meanwhile, remain without a point after consecutive defeats to Berkane and Pyramids and are bottom of the table.
In the same tournament, star Egyptian team Ahly came from behind to level the game at 1-1 away to Morocco’s FAR Rabat in the second round of the Champions League group stage at the Complexe Sportif Moulay Abdellah on Friday.
The win gave the Red Devils the lead in Group B with four points, ahead of Young Africans of Tanzania on goal difference, while Algeria’s JS Kabylie and FAR Rabat remain at the bottom with only one point each after two games.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after the referee ruled that Ahly midfielder Alio Dieng had handled the ball inside the box.
Mohamed Hrimat’s penalty kick hit the right post, but striker Mohcine Bouriga shot the rebound past Mustafa Shubeir who was deputising for the injured Mohamed Al-Shennawi.
Ahly clawed their way back in the 68th minute when Mahmoud Trezeguet equalised with a low header from a pass by substitute Ben Romdhane.
The game was temporarily delayed when Trezeguet suffered a head injury after Moroccan fans started throwing water bottles at Ahly’s players.
Ahly came into the game looking to build on the momentum of their commanding 4-1 home victory over Algeria’s JS Kabylie in the group opener.
Ahly are chasing a record-extending 13th title following their elimination from last edition’s semi-final. They had lost to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who were then upended by Pyramids in the final, winning the prestigious title for the first time ever.
Ahly’s new Danish coach Jess Thorup criticised the behaviour of some of the FAR supporters who threw bottles onto the pitch.
“We came to win, but sometimes the circumstances become difficult and that makes you obliged to accept winning one point away. The most important thing is that we didn’t lose,” Thorup said.
“Our group is one of the most difficult groups in recent years and any team that comes here to Morocco will face the same difficulties. My main concentration now is to develop the team’s performance and prepare strongly for the next rounds.”
Ahly will be hosting Young Africans in the next round on 23 January.
The 55-year-old manager also rued the absence of video technology in the group stage. “This is very important as it helps achieve justice, especially in fine details. I don’t know the reason for its absence, but we respect the refereeing system and emphasise that technology has become an essential element in such matches.”
On Sunday, Ahly urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take significant steps towards implementing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in all Champions League matches.
The club emphasised that, as the continent’s premier club football competition, VAR is crucial to ensuring fairness for all teams.
Currently, VAR is only used from the quarter-finals onwards in CAF club competitions.
In the second-tier African Confederation Cup, Masri of Egypt made it two wins out of two in the group stage with a wild 3-2 away win against ZESCO United of Zambia on Friday.
Cafonline reported that the Egyptians struck inside four minutes when Mohamed Hashem finished to give the visiting side the perfect start.
The lead lasted barely 60 seconds as Freddy Kouablan pounced to level for ZESCO, but the visitors regained control midway through the half when Mounder Tenime swept home on 24 minutes to send Masri in 2-1 up at the break.
Masri found the game’s crucial third when midfielder Abdel-Rahim Deghmoum finished in the 68th minute, giving the Port Said club a two-goal cushion that ultimately proved decisive.
But the hosts refused to fold. Substitute Peter Musukuma set up a tense finale with an 87th-minute reply and went close again deep into added time, but Masri held firm through nine minutes of stoppage time to bank a significant away win.
The result left Masri in sole possession of first place in Group D with six points, two ahead of Egyptian compatriot and powerhouse Zamalek who had to settle for a tie in their second game in heartbreaking fashion at the death in Johannesburg.
Kaiser Chiefs substitute Silva levelled at 90+6 minutes following a huge blunder by goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi, denying Zamalek victory in a tight Group D clash on Saturday.
Zamalek had led from the third minute, Seifeddine Jaziri finishing an early move with a quick turn and shot to put the two-time winners in front in FNB Stadium.
Zamalek tried to see out the win but Dillan Solomons then sent a wide cross from the right wing into the box, and Sobhi let the ball slip from his grasp into his own net, securing the draw for the hosts.
Zamalek will meet Masri at Alexandria’s Borg Al-Arab Stadium on 25 January in their third group match.
The Champions League and Confederation Cup will be taking a break, making way for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which will be held in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 December, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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