Pyramids FC v Auckland City FC
FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off
Sunday, 14 September | 30 June Stadium, Cairo
Kick-off times
21:00 (Cairo) | 06:00 (Auckland, 15 September)
Live stream information
Fans can watch all the live action from Cairo for free on FIFA+ as Pyramids and Auckland battle to join Al Ahli FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup™. Check out the match page on FIFA+ to find out whether it is available to stream in your territory.
Eid: This is a historic opportunity for Pyramids
The build-up
The champions of Africa and Oceania are set to collide in Cairo for the right to face Saudi Arabian power Al Ahli FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup on 23 September.
Having earned the right to represent Africa with their win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the CAF Champions League, Pyramids then went into the domestic off-season with the league having only resumed last month.
With two wins, two draws and a loss in their first five outings, it’s been a mixed start for Krunoslav Jurcic’s side who completed their preparations with a 2-1 win over the FIFA U-20 World Cup™-bound Young Pharaohs on Wednesday.
Auckland, meanwhile, are fresh off a final-day 2-0 win against East Coast Bays that qualified the side for the end of season National League tournament in New Zealand. The Navy Blues have been based in the United Arab Emirates for the past week and had a solid hit-out against Andrea Pirlo’s United FC outfit On Wednesday, which they lost 1-0.
Team news
Both teams enter with fairly settled XIs, with Brazilian attacker Ewerton possibly the only new arrival set to crack the Pyramids starting side. The versatile winger/striker has already caught the eye following his recent arrival and was on the scoresheet in a recent 2-2 draw with league leaders Al Masry.
The bulk of the Auckland squad that impressed in stunning Boca Juniors with a 1-1 draw at the FIFA Club World Cup™ have made the trip to Cairo. The entire 21-strong squad saw minutes in this week’s friendly in the UAE against United FC with stars Gerard Garriga, Dylan Manickum and Myer Bevan all among the starting XI.
Possible starting XIs
Pyramids FC: El Shenawy; Hafez, Sami, Galal, Hamdi; Lasheen, Toure; Atef, El Karti, Ewerton; Mayele.
Auckland City: Garrow; Lagos, Mitchell, Boxall, Bell; Den Heijer, Garriga, Ilich; Yoo, Manickum, Bevan.
What they said
“This will be the first official match Pyramids have ever played against a club from outside Africa. Without a doubt, it’s a hugely significant step in the evolution and growth of the club. It’s an enormous opportunity for Pyramids – really, a historic chance to feature in a tournament of this calibre and we want to go as far as we can.”
Mahmoud Eid, Pyramids FC CEO
“After the Club World Cup we really now have belief that we can compete with some of the best teams in the world. We know though that it’s going to be tough against a strong side but we really have the belief now that we can get results against these kind of teams.”
Christian Gray, Auckland City defender
Stats
30 June Stadium
Opened in 2012, Cairo’s 30 June Stadium is the home base for Pyramids FC. The venue hosted several matches during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the second leg of this year’s CAF Champions League final, as Pyramids qualified for the Intercontinental Cup.
