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Pyramids FC intensified their preparations in South Africa’s Pretoria, ahead of a pivotal match-up against South Africa’s Sundowns in the group stages of the African Champions League. The Egyptian outfit is slated to face off against Sundowns this Sunday at 3 pm local time. The encounter, set to take place at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, marks the third round of the group stages in the prestigious continental competition. The training session was held at the University of Tuks’ training ground in Pretoria. All squad members took part in the hour-and-a-half-long session. The rigorous practice was comprehensive, encompassing a variety of physical drills and tactical exercises. The team also trialled the strategic gameplay approach that Jaime Pacheco, their Portuguese head coach, plans to deploy against the Sundowns. In a boost for the team, captain Abdullah El-Said is expected to rejoin the squad in Pretoria on Wednesday morning. El-Said has been recuperating from a severe cold that sidelined him from the club’s second-round match against Mauritania’s Nouadhibou. He is anticipated to participate in the afternoon training session scheduled for 4 pm.

Pyramids FC kicked off their first training session today in Pretoria, South Africa, gearing up for their impending face-off against Mamelodi Sundowns in the African Champions League. The Egyptian team is set to play as guests at Sundowns at 3 PM this coming Sunday at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. This encounter marks the third round of the group stage in the Champions League. The session, conducted on a pitch at Tuks University in Pretoria, spanned over an hour and a half. It incorporated a number of physical and tactical exercises. The players who participated in the recent match against Nouadhibou in Mauritania underwent a special training and recovery routine. The Pyramids FC squad landed in Pretoria yesterday after a direct journey from Nouakchott, readying for their match against Sundowns. Walid El Karti, the Moroccan midfielder who has now fully recovered from a recent injury, joined the squad from Cairo, bolstering the team’s preparation for the upcoming Sundowns challenge. Upon arrival, the team’s technical director, Jaime Pacheco, took a leisurely tour of one of the hotels in Pretoria, a well-deserved rest after the journey. The Pyramids FC squad will press ahead with their South African preparations over the next few days. The team’s captain, Abdullah El-Said is expected to rejoin the squad within hours, rounding out the team’s ranks ahead of their confrontation with the South African side.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the timings and officials for the upcoming African Champions League group stage tie between Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The match is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, 10th December, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. This fixture is a crucial part of the third round in the group stages. The CAF has appointed a Gabonese referee team to officiate the match. Leading the crew is main referee Pierre Atcho, joined by first assistant Boris Destouga and second assistant Karen Fumo, both from Gabon. The fourth official for the game, Antoine Max, hails from Cameroon. Zambia’s Babsengo Luoyu has been assigned as match observer, with Mohamed Qzaz from Morocco as the referee inspector. The General Coordinator for the game will be Titus Hameliby, also from Zambia.

The Pyramids Football Club delegation from Egypt recently landed in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, greeted by their home country’s ambassador, Khaled Youssef, as they prepare for a pivotal match in the African Champions League. This high-profile meet-and-greet, held at the airport on Wednesday evening, saw the Pyramids FC team, led by Pyramids FC President Mamdouh Eid, arriving via private jet, ready for their upcoming face-off against local team Nouadhibou. This game, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, is a crucial fixture in the group stages of the prestigious tournament. The warm welcome party was spearheaded by the Egyptian ambassador himself, with the support of Egyptian consul, Mahmoud Bayoumi, and the embassy staff. The ambassador later hosted an exclusive dinner at his residence in honour of the visiting football delegation. The delegation, led by Pyramids FC President was accompanied by key club figures including Omar Medhat, the club’s commercial manager, and Sherif Gamal, the public relations manager. Eid expressed his team’s gratitude for the embassy’s hospitality, acknowledging how it sets a positive tone ahead of their crucial match. He further recognised the Egyptian diplomatic mission’s efforts in facilitating the club’s continental journey. As a mark of this appreciation, the Ambassador was presented with a shield bearing the club’s emblem.

Jaime Pacheco, the Portuguese Technical Director of Egypt’s Pyramids FC, has set his sights on victory in Mauritania. Despite acknowledging the strength of the opposition and unfamiliar playing conditions, Pacheco insists his side’s sole aim is to claim all three points. Pyramids FC, a major player in African football, always enters a match with a victory in mind, Pacheco said. He highlighted that the team’s immediate goal is to overcome Nouadhibou, securing their sixth point following a first-round win. Pacheco admitted that playing in Nouadhibou’s home ground, surrounded by their fans, adds to the challenge. During a press conference, Pacheco revealed that the synthetic turf in Mauritania poses a significant obstacle. The Pyramids’ squad are accustomed to playing on natural grass, with all stadiums in Egypt featuring such pitches. However, Pacheco dismissed this as an excuse, reiterating the team’s singular objective to win and uphold Pyramids FC’s reputation in Africa. Pacheco expects a tough match, having studied Nouadhibou’s previous performances. He recognised their strength as competitors with a talented squad and solid strategies. Despite this familiarity, Pacheco is determined not to drop any points in the group stage, aiming to secure early qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals. The technical director also called on FIFA to consider abolishing synthetic turf, citing the potential for increased injuries and impaired player performance. He acknowledged the absence of key players like Islam Issa, Ibrahim Adel, Abdullah Said, and Walid El Karti, but expressed faith in his squad’s ability to deliver their best. Pacheco also highlighted the logistical challenges of long-distance travel within Africa. He praised Pyramids FC’s management for providing top-notch travel and accommodation solutions to minimise player discomfort. Finally, Pacheco extended his gratitude to Nouadhibou Club officials and the Mauritanian people for their warm reception. He concluded by expressing pride and satisfaction in dealing with a “very friendly people.”

Pyramids FC President, Mamdouh Eid, who is also the head of the team’s delegation in Mauritania, was invited to the Mauritanian Football Federation’s headquarters by its President, Ahmed Ould Yahya. Yahya, a member of FIFA’s esteemed council and the Deputy President of the African Football Confederation, extended the invitation in line with Pyramids FC’s African Champions League match against Nouadhibou. The Mauritanian Federation’s chief, Yahya, provided a hearty welcome to the Pyramids FC President, acknowledging Eid’s significant contributions to the football club and its board of directors. He commended Pyramids FC for swiftly establishing itself as one of Africa’s top ten clubs and praised its efforts in advancing football in Egypt and across the continent. Yahya further lauded Egyptian football for its rich cultural heritage and its influential figures, including Hani Abo Rida, a key member of FIFA’s council and its executive office. Symbolic gifts were exchanged between the two Presidents, with a team shirt signed by all Pyramids FC stars presented to Yahya as a gesture of appreciation. Eid praised the dramatic evolution of Mauritanian football under Yahya’s stewardship, which has seen vast improvements in the country and across Africa. Following the official meeting, Yahya led Eid on a tour of the Mauritanian Federation’s infrastructure, including the sports channel, medical center, auxiliary stadiums, academy premises, meeting rooms, press conference halls, beach football pitches, shopping center, and the federation’s restaurant. Eid expressed his admiration for the impressive development of the facilities, which he noted are now comparable to international standards. The two Presidents agreed to continue talks to foster a long-term partnership between Pyramids FC, Nouadhibou Club, and the Mauritanian Football Federation. As a mark of hospitality, Yahya extended an invitation to Eid and the Pyramids FC management for dinner at his residence, which Eid graciously accepted to attend the following evening.