Egypt’s Pyramids FC claimed the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup 2025™ with a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli FC at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Monday night, thanks to a stunning hat-trick from striker Fiston Mayele.
The result, Pyramids’ second straight win in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™, books their place in the FIFA Challenger Cup 2025™, where they will face Mexico’s Cruz Azul or the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions on 13 December. The winner of that tie will meet Paris Saint-Germain for the Intercontinental Cup crown.
Al Ahli, buoyed by a vocal home crowd dressed in green, started brightly but were stunned in the 21st minute when Mayele pounced on a through-ball from Blati Touré after Mohanad Lasheen had dispossessed Franck Kessié.
The hosts drew level just before halftime. Enzo Millot was clipped inside the box while receiving a pass from Riyad Mahrez, and Ivan Toney converted the resulting penalty to make it 1-1.
After the break, Pyramids thought they had retaken the lead when Mayele slotted into an empty net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Al Ahli pressed forward, but goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawy stood tall, denying Kessié with two quick saves.
The turning point came in the 71st minute when Elshenawy’s long clearance launched a counterattack, with Mahmoud Zalaka crossing for Mayele to finish at the near post. Four minutes later, the Congolese striker sealed his hat-trick, latching on to a free-kick and converting the rebound after his initial effort was blocked by Edouard Mendy.
“I have to say that I’m very happy. Congratulations to my players – they played a very good match,” Pyramids head coach Krunoslav Jurčić said after the victory. “I knew that we were a good team, but before the match I was a little bit scared because we don’t usually play in front of such a big crowd. But my guys played good football and we won.”
