CAF champions league: 10-man Nouadhibou defeat star studded Pyramids
Egypt’s Pyramids FC endured a 2-0 loss to 10-man FC Nouadhibou from Mauritania in the second round of the CAF Champions League group stage on Saturday.
Sidi Amar handed the hosts, FC Nouadhibou, an early lead just four minutes into the game when he received the ball behind the defense and found the back of the net.
Abdalahi Oubeid doubled the lead with a brilliant finish, bursting into the area and unleashing a powerful strike into the goal.
FC Nouadhibou displayed high motivation from the start, capitalizing on their home advantage and securing an early lead.
Pyramids FC missed two clear scoring chances in the 32nd minute.
Fiston Mayele unleashed a powerful strike from inside the area, but goalkeeper Kaw made a crucial save.
Striker Fagrie Lakay followed up with a brilliant attempt, only to be denied again by the goalkeeper.
Throughout the first half, FC Nouadhibou maintained pressure and created more scoring opportunities, leading to a 1-0 advantage for the hosts at halftime.
Pyramids FC started the second half with determination to find the equalizer.
In the 46th minute, Fagrie Lakay sent the ball over the crossbar after a splendid assist from Ramadan Sobhi.
Only three minutes into the second half, FC Nouadhibou’s midfielder Demine was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle against Pyramids FC’s striker Mayele.
With three points, Pyramids FC now sit at the bottom of Group A, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe, and FC Nouadhibou in goal difference.
Pyramids FC was without several key players, including Moroccan midfielder Walid El-Karti, veteran playmaker Abdallah El-Saied, winger Ibrahim Adel, midfielder Mahmoud Abdel-Aaty ‘Dunga,’ and Nigerian attacker Samuel Ojo, due to various injuries.
As debutants in the Champions League, Pyramids FC began their group stage campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo’s TP Mazembe at Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium on November 24.
