African Giants Fall as CAF Champions League Delivers Major Upsets

The CAF Champions League witnessed a night of stunning upsets as Egyptian heavyweights Pyramids FC and Al Ahly were both eliminated at the quarter-final stage, marking a major shift in the competition’s balance of power.

Defending champions Pyramids were knocked out after a 2-1 home defeat to Morocco’s FAR Rabat, who secured a 3-2 aggregate victory. Despite entering the tie unbeaten and as strong favourites, Pyramids failed to maintain their momentum, with FAR capitalising on early and second-half goals to seal a historic qualification.

Controversy surrounded the match after Pyramids were denied a potential first-half penalty following a VAR review, a decision that could have altered the course of the game. FAR’s victory also carried symbolic weight, avenging last season’s elimination by the Egyptian side.

In a parallel shock, record 12-time champions Al Ahly were also eliminated after a 3-2 home loss to Tunisia’s Esperance, who advanced 4-2 on aggregate. The match saw intense late drama, including a penalty, an own goal, and a decisive stoppage-time winner that sealed Al Ahly’s fate.

The double exit of Egypt’s top clubs has opened the door for new contenders, with semi-final clashes now set to feature teams from Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Sudan, and Mali. Meanwhile, speculation is mounting over the future of Al Ahly’s coach following the unexpected defeat.

With a record $6 million prize at stake, the tournament now heads into a highly unpredictable final phase.

Source: Newstimehub