Egyptian football giants Al Ahly and Pyramids FC made emphatic starts to their CAF Champions League group stage campaigns on Tuesday, securing high-scoring victories in Cairo.
Defending champions Al Ahly defeated Stade Abidjan of Ivory Coast 4-2 in Group C, while Pyramids overwhelmed Angola’s Sagrada Esperança with a 5-1 thrashing in Group D. Mahmoud Kahraba and Ibrahim Adel each bagged braces to lead their teams to victory.
Ahly raced to a 3-0 lead within 26 minutes, with Kahraba’s second-half goal sealing the win. Kassoum Kone and Roger Assale netted for the visitors, breaking Ahly’s 13-match clean sheet streak in the tournament. The record 12-time champions aim to become the first club to secure three consecutive Champions League titles.
Pyramids FC, bolstered by substantial Middle Eastern investments, showed their growing stature with a dominant second-half performance. The Egyptian side struck four times before Sagrada managed a consolation goal in added time.
Elsewhere in Africa, surprises marked the opening round as Sudan’s Al Hilal, playing all matches abroad due to conflict, stunned Young Africans with a 2-0 away win in Dar es Salaam. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates edged past Chabab Belouizdad 2-1 in Algiers, as Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by debutants Maniema Union.
In another match, Tunisia’s Esperance capitalised on an early goalkeeper error to crush Mali’s Djoliba 4-0.
Matchday two promises excitement, highlighted by Al Ahly’s visit to 1995 champions Orlando Pirates on December 6.
