January 17, 2025

Ahmed El-Shenawy, goalkeeper for Pyramids FC, affirmed that despite already qualifying for the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, the match against Mali’s Djoliba remains important. Because it will be played on Pyramids’ home turf, he emphasized that they will not accept dropping any points at home. Therefore, securing a win and adding three more points to their tally is crucial. Djoliba will face Pyramids at 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Air Defense Stadium in the final group-stage match of the Champions League. El-Shenawy explained that Pyramids had been dealing with several injuries recently, but the situation has improved significantly. He credited the head coach for effectively rotating the squad and involving all players to cope with absences, injuries, and other unforeseen circumstances. He added that the team will face Djoliba with its usual approach—playing for a win, with no other option. El-Shenawy stressed that the team fell short of expectations in last year’s Champions League, exiting in the group stage. That disappointment served as a powerful motivator to achieve better results this season, aim for the latter stages, and compete for the title. Now that the first objective—qualifying for the next round—has been achieved, the team expects a series of tough matches ahead but will do its utmost to keep going. He noted that Pyramids features players with considerable experience who have competed in major finals both in Africa and domestically, making them well-equipped to go after the championship.

The Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić, manager of Pyramids FC, stressed the importance of the match against Mali’s Djoliba in the CAF Champions League. He confirmed that it is the final match in the group stage, and although the team has already achieved its initial goal of qualifying for the quarterfinals, the game remains important, and they must win to maintain their momentum. Djoliba will face Pyramids at 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Air Defense Stadium in the last group-stage match of the Champions League. Speaking at a press conference, Jurčić explained that despite having qualified, winning is still crucial for Pyramids because there are possibilities of finishing at the top of the group. That makes victory vital—mere qualification is not enough. He added that it is fantastic for a relatively new club like Pyramids to be among the top eight teams in Africa, which is a great source of pride, and he is proud of his players. The head coach affirmed that although Djoliba has been eliminated from the tournament, it remains a strong team with young players who command respect. Pyramids will approach the game with full respect, aiming for nothing less than a win, and could still potentially finish at the top of the group. Jurčić noted that the team is fully prepared, and he will select the appropriate lineup in light of any absences or the availability of players. Pyramids faces tough matches for the rest of the month in the Egyptian League, so it is important to manage everything in the best possible way.