Al Ahli FC 1-3 Pyramids FC
Al Ahli goals: Ivan Toney pen (45)
Pyramids goals: Fiston Mayele (21, 71 & 75)
A hat-trick from Fiston Mayele propelled Pyramids FC to their second consecutive victory in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™ in a 3-1 final over Al Ahli FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup 2025™ at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
It sent the Egyptians into the FIFA Challenger Cup 2025™, where they will take on Mexico’s Cruz Azul or the yet-to-be-determined CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores champions on 13 December. The winners of this tie will play Paris Saint-Germain for FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™ glory.
A raucous crowd clad in Al Ahli green greeted the two sides, but Pyramids were unfazed and nearly broke the deadlock early, only to be turned away by Edouard Mendy’s triple save.
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At the second time of asking, though, Mendy was beaten by Fiston Mayele, with Mohanad Lasheen stripping Franck Kessie of possession and allowing Blati Toure to slide a pass into Mayele for the finish.
Al Ahli’s attack came to life after the half-hour mark, forcing Ahmed Elshenawy into a kick-save after Enzo Millot had slipped in behind the Pyramids defence. Millot was in the thick of it again and helped produce the equaliser when he was clipped in the area while receiving a pass from Riyad Mahrez, setting up Ivan Toney’s calmly taken spot-kick.
Pyramids thought they had regained the lead after the hour mark when they pounced on a giveaway, but an easy stroke into net from Mayele was ruled out for offside. Elshenawy was then called into action to deny Franck Kessie on back-to-back chances to keep things level.
It turned out that route-one football would make the difference, as a long boot upfield from Elshenawy reached the streaking Mahmoud Zalaka, whose cross was met in stride by Mayele for a goal at the near post.
The long ball tortured Al Ahli one final time, as Mayele completed his hat-trick by simply running on to a free-kick and turning in the rebound after his initial shot that had been saved by Mendy.
Quotes
“I have to say that I’m very happy, congratulations to my players. They played a very good match. I knew that we were a good team, but before the match I was a little bit scared because we don’t play a lot in front of this number of supporters, but my guys played good football and we won.”
Pyramids head coach Krunoslav Jurcic
