Pyramids cruise past RS Berkane to close in on quarter-finals, Esperance rescue crucial draw against Simba to boost hopes
- Holders Pyramids are on the verge sealing quarters place with a 3-0 win over Berkane
- Power Dynamos revive hopes with 1-0 away win at Rivers United
- Esperance rally to hold Simba to a 2-2 draw in Tanzania
- MC Alger claim first group stage win this season
Title holders Pyramids are on the verge of securing their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after a commanding 3-0 victory over Morocco’s RS Berkane in Cairo on Sunday.
The Egyptian side delivered a composed and clinical performance at the Air Defence Stadium on Sunday to move clear at the top of Group A, underlining their growing authority in Africa’s premier club competition.
Pyramids set the tone early and were rewarded in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Abdel Hafeez, known as “Zalaka”, opened the scoring with a powerful header from close range. The goal came after an accurate delivery from Nasser Maher, whose influence would continue to shape the contest.
After the break, Berkane attempted to respond, but their efforts failed to seriously trouble goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy as Pyramids continued to dictate the tempo and exploit spaces on the counter-attack.
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Nasser Maher capped an impressive display by scoring his first goal in a Pyramids shirt. Latching onto a quick transition sparked by Zalaka, Maher finished confidently from inside the penalty area to double the lead and effectively extinguish Berkane’s hopes of a comeback.
Pyramids added further gloss to the scoreline six minutes later. Ahmed Atef “Qatta” struck the third goal in the 80th minute, completing a dominant evening for the home side and confirming their superiority.
The result lifts Pyramids to 10 points from four matches - three ahead of second-placed Berkane - leaving the Egyptian side on the verge of progressing to the last eight of the competition.
Berkane remain second on seven points, but their grip on qualification is now under pressure, with Zambia’s Power Dynamos closing in as the battle for the group’s second qualifying place intensifies.
For Pyramids, the victory represents another statement of intent as they continue their pursuit of continental success, combining attacking flair with growing tactical maturity at a crucial stage of the tournament.
Rivers United 0-1 Power Dynamos
In the group's other game Power Dynamos claimed their first victory of the CAF Champions League group stage with a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Rivers United, condemning the Nigerian side to another frustrating night.
The decisive moment came five minutes after the restart when Kundwani Chiboni struck to secure all three points for the Zambian champions. The midfielder timed his run perfectly to meet a well-weighted pass from Prince Mumba before calmly slotting the ball into the net to silence the home crowd.
Rivers United, who had entered the contest in search of their first win of the campaign, enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to convert pressure into clear chances in the opening half. Power Dynamos remained disciplined, sitting compact and limiting space in the final third.
The hosts responded with renewed urgency after falling behind, committing more players forward in an attempt to force an equaliser. Several attacks were launched during an intense second half, but they were repeatedly repelled by an organised Power Dynamos backline and a composed goalkeeping display that preserved the narrow advantage.
Despite Rivers United pushing late on, clear-cut opportunities were few, and the Zambian side managed the closing stages effectively to see out a vital away win.
The result lifts Power Dynamos to four points in Group A, keeping them firmly in contention for qualification, while Rivers United remain bottom of the standings with just one point from their four matches, leaving their hopes of progress hanging by a thread.
MC Alger 2-0 St Éloi Lupopo
Mouloudia Club of Algiers recorded their first win of the CAF Champions League group stage with a controlled 2-0 victory over DR Congo side St Éloi Lupopo on Sunday evening.
Second-half goals from Khelif Merwan and Zakaria Naidji sealed the points for the Algerian champions in a Matchday 4 Group C encounter, lifting them back into contention in a tightly contested group.
After a cautious first half in which both sides struggled to carve out clear chances, MC Alger took control shortly after the break. Khalif broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, finishing calmly to give the hosts a deserved lead after sustained pressure.
Lupopo attempted to respond but found opportunities limited against a disciplined Algerian defence, which kept the Congolese side largely at arm’s length as the game progressed.
MC Alger made the result safe eight minutes from time when Naidji struck in the 82nd minute, capitalising on space in the final third to double the advantage and extinguish any hopes of a late comeback.
The victory moves Mouloudia Club of Algiers up to four points in Group C, placing them third in the standings on goal difference, just ahead of St Éloi Lupopo, who remain bottom of the group after another difficult outing on the road.
At the top of Group C, Sudanese side Al Hilal continue to set the pace with eight points, maintaining a three-point cushion over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in second place as the race for the quarter-finals intensifies.
With two group matches remaining, MC Alger’s first win of the campaign breathes new life into their qualification hopes, while Lupopo are left facing an uphill task to revive their continental challenge.
Simba SC 2-2 Esperance
Esperance strengthened their chances of reaching the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League knockout stages after staging a spirited comeback to draw 2-2 with Simba SC in a dramatic Group D encounter in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
The Tunisian side appeared on course for defeat at the KMC Stadium after a dominant first-half display from the Tanzanian hosts, but a marked improvement after the break allowed Esperance to claw their way back into the contest and leave with a valuable point.
Simba, buoyed by home support, made a strong start and were rewarded in the 39th minute when Shomari Kapombe opened the scoring, heading home after sustained pressure pinned Esperance deep inside their own half.
The hosts doubled their advantage just before the interval. Yusuph Kagoma finished off a swift attacking move in the 45th minute, exploiting space behind the Esperance defence to give Simba a commanding 2-0 lead at the break and put themselves in control of the match.
Esperance, however, returned from the interval with renewed urgency and purpose. Their tempo increased, possession became more controlled and the pressure began to tell on the Simba backline.
The comeback gathered momentum in the 64th minute when Aboubacar Diakité reduced the deficit, converting from close range to give the visitors belief that a result was still possible.
Simba struggled to regain their earlier grip on the game, and Esperance’s persistence was rewarded again in the 79th minute when Kouceila Boualia struck the equaliser, capping a sustained spell of second-half dominance and silencing the home crowd.
The visitors came agonisingly close to completing a remarkable turnaround in stoppage time. Esperance were awarded a penalty, but Hamza Jlassi was unable to convert, his miss denying the Tunisian side a dramatic late victory.
The match ended level, with both teams forced to settle for a share of the points.
The result leaves Esperance de Tunis second in Group D on six points, behind leaders Stade Malien on eight, as the race for qualification tightens at the halfway stage of the group phase.
For Simba SC, the draw delivered a first point of their campaign but did little to lift them from the bottom of the standings, leaving their hopes of progression hanging by a thread with two matches remaining.
With qualification margins narrowing, Esperance’s resilience in Dar es Salaam could prove decisive as the group approaches its final rounds.