African champions Pyramids lose Egyptian cup shootout
Cairo club Pyramids, who won the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League last weekend, lost 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Zamalek in the Egypt FA Cup final on Thursday.
After each club had converted seven of nine kicks in the shootout at the Cairo International Stadium, it was the turn of two veterans to take penalties.
Former English Premier League defender Ali Gabr, 36, missed for Pyramids, then midfielder Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdelrazek, 39, scored for Zamalek to win the final for the White Knights.
Ahmed Atef had netted after 29 minutes for Pyramids and Naser Mansi, who came off the bench for the second half, equalised for Zamalek with 12 minutes of regular time remaining.
Pyramids beat Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa 2-1 in Cairo last Sunday for a 3-2 aggregate victory in the Champions League final.
It was only the second appearance of Pyramids in the premier African club competition and Krunoslav Jurcic became the first Croatian coach to win the Champions League.
Funded by Emirati businessman Salem al Shamsi, Pyramids are a rising force in Egypt, finishing second behind Al Ahly in the Egypt Premier League last week with Zamalek a distant third.
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