Jurčić hails “historic” Pyramids triumph as Chaabani rues injuries in Super Cup final

Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurčić hailed a “historic” night for the Cairo club after a 1-0 win over Morocco’s RS Berkane sealed the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup in the Egyptian capital on Saturday.

The Croatian manager said the triumph belonged to the entire organisation rather than any individual, while Berkane boss Moïn Chaâbani pointed to injuries and absences as decisive factors in a tight final.

The victory adds another piece of silverware to Pyramids’ fast-growing honours list and capped a packed evening at 30 June Stadium.

Berkane, last season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup winners, pressed for long spells but could not find a way through.

Speaking at full-time, Jurčić stressed the collective effort behind the club’s rise. “I am not the only one who led Pyramids to trophies; the credit goes to the whole system. I provide the players with the right atmosphere to achieve something special in their careers,” he said.

Jurčić, an animated presence on the touchline, described his in-game demeanour as a deliberate attempt to transmit belief.

“My reaction on the sideline is to pass energy to the players and inject passion. We always try to break the monotony and keep our level rising,” he explained.

He framed the Super Cup as the product of planning and rotation across a long calendar.

“This reflects the team’s work. We succeeded in winning four titles—we are kings of Africa. We rotate to keep everyone fresh, and now we need calm to achieve more in the next phase,” Jurčić added, before praising the turnout that included neutrals from Egypt’s biggest clubs. 

“I’m happy and proud of what we achieved. Congratulations to everyone at the club and to all Egyptians—I even saw many fans wearing Al Ahly and Zamalek shirts.”

Looking ahead, the coach set out fresh ambitions. “Our target now is the Egyptian Super Cup, the league, and the Intercontinental tournament,” he said.

Chaâbani, meanwhile, congratulated the winners but insisted Berkane had long stretches of control.

“Congratulations to Pyramids on the Super Cup. We were the better side in the first half and again after the break. We created several chances, but it just wasn’t our night,” the Tunisian coach said.

He underlined how a depleted squad shaped his approach.

“Injuries and absences affected us negatively, but I thank my players for their performance. We were not shaken psychologically; on the contrary, we were better and reached the goal more than our opponent, but luck did not favour us,” he noted.

Chaâbani also highlighted Pyramids’ maturation at continental level.

“Pyramids are a clever team. They have used the experience they gained in the CAF Confederation Cup and converted it into winning the CAF Champions League and now the CAF Super Cup,” he said.

The single-goal margin reflected a cagey, tactical final between last season’s Champions League and Confederation Cup winners.

For Pyramids, it was another statement result in a year that continues to redefine the club’s place among Africa’s elite; for Berkane, the performance offered encouragement despite the sting of defeat, with domestic and continental campaigns still to come.