Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurčić has identified a key mistake that Al Ahly made when they were knocked out of the CAF Champions League semi-final by Mamelodi Sundowns.
In that instance, Sundowns needed a goal in Cairo to draw level with the 12-time African champions and secure a spot in the final. The reverse fixture in Pretoria had ended in a goalless draw, and a 1-1 result in Cairo was enough to see Masandawana through.
The Croatian coach has learned from that outcome and says his players will do everything to avoid repeating the same error. Sundowns will visit Pyramids at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo this Sunday evening at 7 PM for the decider.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Pretoria, setting up what promises to be an explosive second-leg.
WHAT’S THE MISTAKE AHLY MADE VS SUNDOWNS
“Ahly played against Sundowns, and they scored an early goal, and they were waiting until the end of the match. This is a tactical decision. I respect and it can be that Ahly win that match 1-0 and they’re going to the final match.
“But my standard of football is not that way. We will try to play our way,” Jurčić said. He is aware that Egypt could become the first country in African football history to have four different clubs crowned continental champions.
A goalless draw or any win at home would be enough to hand Pyramids FC their first-ever CAF Champions League title. Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily have won the competition previously. No other nation has ever had four separate clubs lift the coveted African title.
If Pyramids triumph, Egypt will achieve this unprecedented feat, further underlining the country’s dominance in the history of club football on the continent.
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