CAIRO — Egyptian clubs Zamalek and Pyramids FC strengthened their chances of reaching the group stage of the CAF Champions League 2026/27 after securing identical 1-0 away victories in the first-legs of the Second Preliminary Round.
Zamalek needed a last-minute goal from substitute Nasser Mansi to defeat Rwanda’s APR FC in Kigali, while Mahmoud Saber’s first-half strike earned Pyramids a narrow victory over South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu in Juba.
The results put both Egyptian sides in favourable positions ahead of the return legs in Cairo on Saturday, October 24, although Pyramids will have to overcome the absence of two defenders through suspension.
Mansi seals advantage for Zamalek
Zamalek left it until the 90th minute to break the resistance of APR FC at the Amahoro Stadium, securing a valuable victory in a closely contested encounter.
Both teams created opportunities during the match, but neither could find the breakthrough as the contest appeared destined to finish goalless, cafonline.com reported.
Zamalek thought they had taken the lead two minutes before the decisive goal, only for their effort to be ruled out for offside.
However, the Egyptian side continued to press and were rewarded in the closing moments when Mansi, introduced as a substitute, converted from inside the penalty area.
The forward collected a pass from Isho before directing his effort beyond the APR goalkeeper to settle the encounter.
The victory gives Zamalek a slender advantage ahead of the second leg in Cairo, where they will attempt to complete qualification for the group stage.
Zamalek reached this stage after defeating Djibouti’s AS Port 6-1 on aggregate in the First Preliminary Round.
APR FC, meanwhile, had progressed following a 3-1 aggregate victory over Aigles du Congo, overturning a first-leg deficit with a 3-0 home win.
The Rwandan champions must now win in Egypt to keep their continental campaign alive.
Pyramids win in Juba
Pyramids FC also secured a crucial away victory, defeating El Merriekh Bentiu of South Sudan through a 30th-minute goal from Mahmoud Saber.
Saber struck midway through the first half to put the visitors ahead, and Pyramids protected their narrow lead for the remainder of the contest.
However, the victory came at a cost for the Egyptian club, who will be without defenders Mahmoud Marei and Iyad Al-Asqalani for the return fixture.
Marei was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card during Friday’s match, ruling him out of the second-leg.
Al-Asqalani also collected a booking, his third of the campaign, having previously been cautioned twice during Pyramids’ First Preliminary Round matches against Kenya’s Gor Mahia.
The suspensions leave Pyramids facing a defensive selection challenge despite taking a one-goal advantage back to Cairo.
The Egyptian side had reached the Second Preliminary Round in impressive fashion, eliminating Gor Mahia 7-1 on aggregate.
El Merriekh Bentiu also enjoyed a convincing opening round, defeating Somalia’s Heegan FC 4-0 across two legs.
Pyramids will host the return encounter at the Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on October 24, seeking to protect their lead and secure a place among the final 16 clubs in the group stage.
The winners of both ties will advance to the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition, which is scheduled to begin at the end of November.
