Pyramids players set sights on bigger prizes after calm dismantling of Auckland
Pyramids FC moved smoothly into the next stage of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup pathway with a 3–0 defeat of Auckland City in Cairo, and their dressing room message afterwards was simple: enjoy the moment, but get ready for a far tougher examination against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli.
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League holders were making their debut in a FIFA competition yet looked entirely at home, striking early through Walid El Karti before late goals from Marwan Hamdy and substitute Mostafa Ziko sealed a stress-free evening at the 30 June Stadium.
The result books Pyramids a place in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, where Al Ahli — champions of Asia — await.
With a star-laden squad that includes Franck Kessié, Riyad Mahrez and Édouard Mendy, the Jeddah club represent a significant step up in opposition.
Win that, and the Egyptians will be one tie from a shot at Europe’s kings, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Intercontinental Cup final.
This was not the night for big speeches, but there was no hiding what the victory meant to a club that has climbed quickly at home and now wants to prove it belongs on a larger stage.
“It feels great to get the win because this is our first-ever FIFA tournament,” said defender Osama Galal at full-time. “We’re hoping to go all the way.”
Full-back Mohamed Chibi highlighted the collective graft that underpinned a performance which rarely allowed the Oceania champions to breathe. “I’m grateful for the whole team’s performance,” he said.
“We all knew how important this match was. We started strongly and got the opener, which set us up nicely, before scoring twice more in the second half and securing the win. Hopefully, we can carry this success into our next match.”
The next assignment is the kind that tests conviction as much as quality.
Karim Hafez struck a measured tone, framing the showdown with Al Ahli within the club’s step-by-step rise — from domestic cup winners to continental champions, and now contenders in FIFA’s new inter-confederation pathway.
“Our next match is going to be tough because we’re up against a great team with a lot of history, but we’ll be ready and, hopefully, we’ll get the win,” Hafez said.
“We’ve been taking things one step at a time. First, we won the Egypt Cup, then the CAF Champions League, and now we’re aiming to win the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, so hopefully our success will continue.”
Galal’s focus was more direct. Names on paper, he insisted, won’t decide anything. “I believe we’re capable of beating Al Ahli,” he added.
“In football, it’s not about one team being stronger or weaker on paper; the winner is decided by performance on the pitch. We’re going to give our all to win.”
Chibi echoed that sentiment, pointing to a group that has been together through high-pressure moments in Africa and expects to lean on that experience again. “We have full confidence in each other because we know we’ve got excellent, experienced players in this squad,” he said.
“We know the match against Al Ahli will be a tough one, but, God willing, we’ll put in a strong team performance to get the win. We’ve given everything to come this far because we know how important this tournament is, and we want to make history by winning the title.”
Distant on the horizon is the tantalising prospect of meeting PSG. It is motivation, not a distraction, according to the Pyramids camp.
“The prospect of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final really drives us on,” said Chibi.
“That being said, our most important task now is to focus on getting the win in our match against Al Ahli.”
Galal agreed: “We have to take things one step at a time, focus on the next match and then hope to reach the final.”
For now, Pyramids have handled the first assignment with minimum fuss. The next will say even more about how far this ambitious Egyptian project can travel on the world stage.