De Al-Rayyan
Founded in the same city of Cairo in which there are traditional Egyptian clubs, such as Al-Ahly and Zamalek, both capable of mobilizing millions of fans around the world, until this year the Pyramids he only played a supporting role, with no major achievements to show off compared to the achievements of his rivals and neighbors.
While Al-Ahly and Zamalek have, respectively, 44 and 14 Egyptian titles, 39 and 29 national Cups and twelve and five African Football Confederation Champions Leagues, only since 2023, when they became champions of the Egyptian Cup, Pyramids had an important trophy to celebrate.
It got there at the expense of the ambition of Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh, who bought the club and injected a lot of money to have reinforcements, including from Brazil. Five years ago, well-known names such as striker Keno (ex-Palmeiras) and midfielders Rodriguinho (who played for Corinthians) and Carlos Eduardo (who played for Athletico Paranaense) were hired. But the money invested did not mean titles on the CV, as Al-Sheikh had imagined.
Hand in hand
Passed on to a new investor, businessman Salem Al-Shamsi, from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who took over Pyramids in 2019in the last two years the club has managed to stand out.
Coached by Croatian Krunoslav Jurcicthe team, previously considered dwarf and with a modest CV, became a machine for lifting cups. To reach the top, Jurcic assembled a competitive squad, in which the highlights are goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy, from the Egyptian national team, and Congolese center forward Fiston Mayele, as well as right-winger Ewerton, who played for Banik Ostrava, in the Czech Republic. There are four athletes on the Egypt team, which will be at the 2026 World Cup.
Egypt Cup
This mix of talents from such different backgrounds came together. In 2023, Pyramids won their first Egyptian Cup. And he never stopped lifting trophies, with the surprising victory of his first African Champions League.
Tests on the African continent
Against the odds and in fits and startsKrunoslav Jurcic’s Pyramids had a historic campaign. They managed to qualify in a group that had the powerful Espérance, from Tunisia, beating the strong FAR, from Morocco, in the quarter-finals, 4-1 — they would lose 2-0 away from home, but enough to advance on goal difference. In the semifinals, they eliminated Orlando Pirates, from Johannesburg, drawing away and winning at home. And he repeated the script in the final against Mamelodi Sundowns, also from South Africa, becoming African champion for the first time.
This title meant the Egyptian club’s first participation in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the former Club World Cup. And Pyramids continued to advance, even playing against opponents more accustomed to competing in this championship.. In September, in Cairo, they defeated Auckland City, from New Zealand, 3-1. Weeks later, they went to Jeddah, to face Al-Ahli Saudi, the champion of Asia, and took no notice of their opponent: they won 3-0, won the Africa-Asia-Oceania Cup and got in the way of Flamengo, winner of the Copa Libertadores at the end of November.
SIGA THE FOOTBALL
Facebook
Instagram
Linkedin
Threads
Tik Tok
“We have a lot of respect for Flamengo, but we are confident that, if we put our best on the field, we can reach the final: we are good, you will see,” Jurcic told The Football. According to the Croatian coach, an asset in favor of his team is the fact that Flamengo are the big favorites. “In this game the pressure will be on Flamengo”, he says. “But this does not mean that our team will enter the field against the Brazilians without ambitions: we want to win this match to continue making history.”
Keep reading
