Pyramids FC marked their debut in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a 3-0 victory over Auckland City, booking their spot in the next round.
The breakthrough came early for the CAF Champions League title holders when Brazilian winger Ewerton whipped in a cross that fell at Walid El Karti’s right foot to put Pyramids ahead.
Marwan Hamdy doubled the lead in the 74th minute, heading in Mohamed Hamdy’s cross, before Mostafa Ziko sealed the result late on with a low finish after capitalizing on a loose ball in the box.
Pyramids were in control from start to finish, showing composure in their first-ever appearance in a FIFA tournament.
Egyptian defender Osama Galal expressed his delight at the performance. “It feels great to get the win because this is our first-ever FIFA tournament. We’re hoping to go all the way.”
Teammate Mohamed Chibi praised the team’s performance as well. “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.”
Pyramids now advance to face Asian champions Al Ahli Jeddah on September 23 in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup. The Saudi giants boast a strong squad featuring the likes of Ivan Toney, Franck Kessie, Riyad Mahrez, and Edouard Mendy.
Looking ahead, Karim Hafez acknowledged the challenge they face in their upcoming fixture. “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. We’ve been taking things one step at a time. First the Egypt Cup, then the CAF Champions League, and now the African-Asian-Pacific Cup.”
With Paris Saint-Germain automatically in the competition’s final, Chibi admitted the chance to face the European champions is an added motivation. “It’s everyone’s ambition to play in such big matches,” he said. “That being said, our most important task now is to focus on getting the win against Al Ahli.”
The second round match between Pyramids and Al Ahli will take place on September 23, 2025. The winner will face either Mexico’s Cruz Azul, the Concacaf Champions Cup holders, or the yet-to-be-crowned CONMEBOL Libertadores champions for a place in the Intercontinental Cup final