Pyramids FC have announced Rulani Mokwena as their new head coach, a few days after the former Orlando Pirates tactician left Libyan side Al Ittihad SC.
After just four months in charge of Al Ittihad, the move to Pyramids has now been completed. The Soweto-born coach arrives in Cairo with a backroom staff that includes compatriots Wendell Robinson and Sinethemba Badela as his assistant coaches.
Shortly after Pyramids confirmed the departure of Krunoslav Jurcic on Friday evening, the official announcement of Mokwena’s appointment followed.
The Cairo moneybags are Mokwena’s fourth club in North Africa after stints in Morocco, Algeria and Libya. This makes that part of the continent familiar to the ex-Mamelodi Sundowns tactician.
North African clubs have a reputation for not being patient with coaches, and that makes the pressure environment in Egypt something Mokwena is accustomed to. It was a similar football climate at Wydad Casablanca, MC Alger and Al Ittihad, where he has previously worked.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS ON RULANI MOKWENA AT PYRAMIDS FC
The 39-year-old takes charge of a club that won the CAF Champions League under Jurcic during the 2024/25 season. Interestingly, the Egyptian side beat Mokwena’s former club, Sundowns, to be crowned African champions. Jurcic’s exploits set the bar high for Mokwena to maintain Pyramids as continental beaters.
Mokwena assumes the Pyramids’ job as the club returns to the Champions League next season after finishing last term as the Egyptian Premier League runners-up to champions Zamalek SC. He would be expected to lead a successful bid to reclaim the continental crown after they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage last season by losing finalists AS FAR Rabat.
Having been constantly on the move over the last two years, Mokwena is under pressure to find stability at one club and win trophies. He now gets busy assembling a competitive squad to stay ahead of Al Ahly and Zamalek domestically, while also aiming to dominate Africa.
With Burkinabe striker Stephane Aziz Ki keen to leave Al Ittihad, it remains to be seen if Mokwena will lure him to the Egyptian capital city. He inherits a squad which includes the likes of midfielder Mostafa Ziko, defender Karim Hafez and Mohanad Lasheen, who were at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Egypt.
One pre-season friendly has so far been confirmed for Pyramids, who will take on Turkish Super Lig outfit Caykur Rizespor in Turkey on August 8.
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