Modiba Weighs In On Pyramids’ Evolution Ahead Of CAFCL Final
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba has spoken about Pyramids’ rapid rise in African football, with the two sides set to lock horns in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
The ambitious Egyptian outfit, founded in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport, earned its first promotion to the Egyptian Premier League in 2014, where they suffered an immediate relegation before returning to the topflight once again in 2017.
In 2018, the club was renamed Pyramids FC and relocated to Cairo after it was acquired by Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi Sports Authority, who eventually sold it to Emirati businessman Salem
Al Shamsi on the back of a third-place finish in the league and an Egyptian Cup final defeat. Since then, Pyramids won the Egyptian Cup last season and will face Zamalek to retain it.
In addition, the Cairo-based outfit lost the 2019/20 CAF Confederations Cup final to RS Berkane before reaching the semi-finals and the quarterfinals of the same competition in the subsequent three campaigns.
Now, with the team spearheaded by experienced Croatian mentor Krunoslav Juricic and causing upsets in Africa’s elite club competition this term, Modiba is aware of the threat posed by the megarich Egyptians.
“We are expecting a tough game against Pyramids. We saw what they did in the Champions League, all the way to the final. They are a great team, I think they do well home and away, so we will just have to apply ourselves on the day and try to win the game, especially at home,” the Downs left-back noted.
Having faced the Pyramids and reigned supreme in one match and drawn the other one in the group stages in 2023, the former SuperSport United star acknowledges the team has evolved and accumulated valuable experience on the continent over the years.
“I think they have signed quite a few players from the last team that we played, and I think now they have probably gained more experience in the Champions League, hence they are in the final. So, right now they are a team that is doing well even in the league, they are number two,” Modiba added.
“They are competing with Al Ahly for the league. So, it’s a team that has evolved so much, and I think it is doing well. Like I said, they have gained experience in the Champions League, hence they are in the final.
“It’s a different team, different coach, obviously a different approach from the team that we played, and I think they have evolved, and they are doing well.”
Pyramids made their Champions League debut last season, where they crashed out in the group stages. Juricic will be keen for a historic triumph in the two-legged deciding match with the return leg penciled in for 1 June, in what is their first-ever taste of knockout stage football at the highest level.
