African champions Pyramids brush aside Auckland to set up Al Ahli showdown
Egyptian side Pyramids eased into the next phase of the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup pathway with a controlled 3–0 win over Auckland City at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium on Sunday night, booking a glamour tie against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli.
The African champions are now two victories away from an Intercontinental Cup final against Europe’s kings Paris Saint-Germain.
Walid El Karti’s crisp finish on 14 minutes put Krunoslav Jurčić’s side in charge before second-half strikes from Marwan Hamdy (74) and substitute Mostafa “Ziko” (85) removed any doubt.
It was a professional night’s work from the Egyptians, who carried the greater threat throughout and rarely allowed the Oceania champions a foothold.
The breakthrough arrived when Brazilian winger Ewerton bent over a teasing left-footed cross that broke kindly for El Karti to lash home, settling early nerves and lifting the volume inside the ground.
Pyramids thought they had doubled the lead before the half-hour when Mohamed Hamdy powered in a header, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations.
Auckland’s best—and only—clear opening came on the counter after the restart, Dylan Manickum racing clear but slicing wide when a cool head was needed.
That miss proved costly. With 16 minutes to play, Marwan Hamdy met a near-post delivery with a thumping header to make it 2–0 and effectively close the contest.
Ziko then pressed high, pinched possession from a tiring defence and curled an assured third into the far corner.
Victory sets up a meeting with Al Ahli, winners of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The victors will face either Mexico’s Cruz Azul, the Concacaf Champions Cup holders, or the yet-to-be crowned CONMEBOL Libertadores champions for a place in the Intercontinental Cup final against PSG.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to win our first match in a FIFA competition,” said defender Osama Jalal.
“We believe we’re capable of beating Al Ahli. Our ambition has grown since winning Africa—PSG would be a huge motivation, but we have to take it step by step.”