CAF Champions League : Pyramids Begin Title Defence Against Rivers Utd in Cairo
This year’s CAF Champions League Group stage matches will kickoff today in various centres across the continent with title holders, Pyramids of Egypt beginning their title Defence against Nigerian representatives, Rivers United.
Pyramids handled by Krunoslav Jurčić will be buoyed by a Super Cup win and a rising spine built around goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy, Walid El Karti and striker Fiston Mayele.
However, they’ll be without Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal and Mostafa Fathi.
Rivers United on the other hand, will be depending on their defensive sting and renewed attacking intent.
Speaking on the match, Rivers United handler, Finidi George said that in as much as they understand the enormity of the task ahead but they are focused on having a perfect start in the Group stage.
“We’re quite aware of the quality of the defending champions but we are focused on giving a good account of ourselves and we hope to come out with a positive result from Cairo”, he said
In the group’s other tie, CAF Confederation champions, RS Berkaneof Morocco will host Zambia’s Power Dynamos in a reunion pool that also revives their fresh rivalry with Pyramids later in the round-robin.
Group B looks the toughest on paper. Record 12-time winners Al Ahly open their title chase at home to JS Kabylie of Algeria in Cairo.
Jess Thorup’s Ahly recent Egyptian Super Cup winners will lean on star arrivals like Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and the experience of Ashraf Bencharki and Taher Mohamed, though fitness clouds hover over Ahmed “Zizo” Mostafa and Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, with Hussein El-Shahat and Achraf Dari sidelined.
Josef Zinnbauer’s JSK travel with menace through Aymen Mahious and Zinedine Belaïd.
The section’s other match sends AS FAR to Dar es Salaam to face Young Africans in a meeting of recent continental finalists and quarter-finalists; Yanga’s intensity under Pedro Gonçalves makes this a genuine 50–50 clash.
There is sub-plot galore in Group C. Al-Hilal (home in Kigali) meet MC Alger in a coaching storyline rich with intrigue: Rulani Mokwena, once the face of Sundowns’ rise, now leads league-leading MCA and seeks a statement result against a fellow North African heavyweight.
Hilal will be depending on counter attack by veteran Mohamed Abdelrahman and Mauritania international Guessouma Fofana to make a statement in this encounter.
Also today in Pretoria, Sundowns begin their campaign against St Éloi Lupopo, the Congolese side that stunned Orlando Pirates in qualifying.
Group D opens with continental pedigree. Four-time champions Espérance host Stade Malien in Tunis.
EST absorb a cruel blow with Youcef Belaïli’s ACL injury but retain quality through Houssem Tka, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida and Algerian livewire Wassila Boualia, with veteran Youcef Msakni drafted back to solidify the front line.
In the group’s other tie, Simba entertain Petro de Luanda in a clash of high-tempo sides whose ambitions stretch well beyond the groups.
MATCH DAY 1 FIXTURES
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League
Saturday, 22 November
1Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa ) vs St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo )
Young Africans (Tanzania) vs AS FAR Rabat (Morocco)
Al Ahly (Egypt) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Espérance Tunis (Tunisia) vs Stade Malien (Mali)
RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Pyramids (Egypt) vs Rivers United (Nigeria)
Sunday, 23 November
Simba
(Tanzania) vs Petro Atlético (Angola )
