Pyramids FC of Egypt drubbed Rivers United of Nigeria 4-1 to assure a first place finish in Group A in the 2025 African Champions League.
Even though one game remains in the group stage, defending champions Pyramids are guaranteed to finish top of the group as they head to the quarter-finals.
Stephen Manu had given the Nigerian side a surprise lead in the first half in Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday before Pyramids emphatically replied with goals from Mustafa Fathi, a penalty by Marwan Hamdi, a third goal by Awda Al-Fakhouri, making his Pyramids debut after joining the club this month, and newly acquired Nasser Maher, sealing qualification with a match to spare.
The win gave Pyramids an unassailable 13 points with five games played and one left. RS Berkane of Morocco have seven points and must deal with Power Dynamos of Zambia, who also have seven points, in the fight for second place. Rivers United are out of the tournament with one point.
Pyramids’ last match is with Power Dynamos in Egypt on 14 February.
Following the win, Pyramids FC Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic said his team can repeat as champions for the second straight year.
“Pyramids have big chances to compete for the title and keep it for the second successive season despite missing four key players,” Jurcic said in a press conference after the game.
In Group B in the same tournament, with five games played and one more to go, Ahly of Egypt drew scoreless with JS Kabylie of Algeria, leaving the Egyptian team still on top with nine points. AS FAR of Morocco are a point behind. Young Africans of Tanzania have five and JS Kabylie are eliminated with three points.
When the group stage kicked off in November last year Ahly thrashed JS Kabylie 4-1 in Cairo but in the return fixture Kabylie were a changed team. Kabylie had the better of the play and could have won easily had it not been for the woodwork and a good helping of luck.
In the 16th minute in Saturday’s game played in Algeria, Aymen Mahious had the goal at his mercy but his shot fortuitously struck the heel of defender Mohamed Hani.
Four minutes later, the hosts came close again when a piercing cross by Billal Messaoudi met the outstretched boot of Mahious who steered the ball onto the right post from close range.
Kabylie could not find the breakthrough, with Ahly goalkeeper Mustafa Shobeir’s diving stop from a point blank header from Mostapha Rezkallah Bott in the second half ensuring the contest ended scoreless.
Ahly head coach Jess Thorup of Denmark acknowledged how fortunate his team was. “We must admit that we were lucky to come away with a draw,” he said. “But sometimes, when you can’t win, you have to make sure you don’t lose.”
The final group game has Ahly playing AS FAR in Egypt and Young Africans meeting Kabylie in Tanzania, both on 13 February.
Ahly, with a record 12 titles, are assured of a place in the quarter-finals. Their last match with AS FAR is to determine the top spot in Group B while Young Africans are still in the mix.
In Group D in the other continental football club competition, the African Confederation Cup, Zamalek of Egypt were edged 1-0 against unfancied Zesco United in Zambia while Egyptian compatriot Masri also lost to the more highly rated Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa 2-1.
Zamalek defender Ahmed Khodri swiped the legs from under Emanuel Manda inside the area for a needless penalty.
Forward Amine Hiver stepped up in the 61st minute, shooting into the bottom left corner.
With just over a minute left in added time, a header by Zamalek central defender Hossam Abdel-Meguid grazed the crossbar.
Sunday’s loss was Zamalek’s first in the group stage. The team had previously won twice and drawn two.
Zamalek’s first-year coach Motamed Gamal said he remained optimistic ahead of the final round.
“Our chances to reach the next round as group leaders are still alive,” Gamal said.
As for Masri, in Johannesburg on Sunday, Flávio Silva put Kaizer Chiefs ahead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute before Algerian midfielder Abderrahim Deghmoum equalised in the 58th. It took only two minutes for Aden McCarthy to score the winner for the hosts.
The goal by Deghmoum kept Masri’s Confederation Cup hopes alive. The Port Said side had beaten Kaizer Chiefs by the same score earlier in the group, with no head-to-head advantage separating the teams.
In a hotly contested and congested group, the results left Kaizer Chiefs atop with 10 points with a game left. Zamalek and Masri are second and third with eight and seven points respectively and Zesco of Zambia have exited the tournament with three points.
Zamalek, the two-time champions, and Kaizer Chiefs will contest their final reckoning on Sunday 15 February in Egypt while Masri and Zesco United are playing on the same day in the same country.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 12 February, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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