The African football landscape shifted on its axis on Saturday, as the reigning kings of the continent, Pyramids FC, saw their title defense come to a staggering halt, the Egyptians fell 2-1 to Morocco's AS FAR Rabat, losing 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg quarterfinals at the 30 June Stadium.
The elimination of the 2025 champions marks one of the most significant upset in the modern era of the competition, proving once again that in the CAF Champions League, the crown is a heavy burden to carry.
A tactical masterclass: How AS FAR silenced Cairo
Pyramids entered the match as heavy favorites, having secured a vital away goal in the initial 1-1 draw in Morocco. However, AS FAR manager Czeslaw Michniewicz deployed a masterclass in counter-attacking football that left the “Sky Blues” chasing shadows on their own turf.
- The Early Stunner: Just nine minutes in, Moroccan star Reda Slim silenced the home crowd, finishing a clinical transition to put the visitors ahead.
- Set-Piece Sovereignty: Pyramids' inability to defend aerial threats proved fatal in the 54th minute when Mohamed Rabie Hrimat thundered home a header from a corner, doubling the lead.
- The Desperation Phase: While Fiston Mayele injected life back into the stadium with a 62nd-minute strike, Pyramids spent the final half-hour in a frantic, disorganised assault that failed to break Rabat's disciplined low block.
The end of an era?
The exit of Pyramids FC – occurring alongside Al Ahly's shock defeat to Esperance on the same night – marks a historic shift: for the first time in nearly a decade, the CAF Champions League semifinals will feature no Egyptian representation.
For Pyramids, a period of introspection begins. After heavy investment and reaching the pinnacle of African football last season, the “Sky Blues” must now recalibrate. Meanwhile, for AS FAR, this victory signals a triumphant return to the continental elite as they prepare for a semifinal clash against RS Berkane.