November 23, (THEWILL) — Pyramids FC began their 2025 CAF Champions League Group A campaign with a dominant 3-0 triumph over Rivers United at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Saturday evening. The Egyptian champions now sit atop the group after the opening round, whilst the Nigerian visitors endured a challenging start against the defending continental champions.
The opening period saw no breakthrough, with Rivers United holding firm through organised defensive work. The Port Harcourt outfit restricted the hosts to limited opportunities during the first 45 minutes, keeping the scoreline level at the interval. Possession favoured the Egyptians, yet the Nigerian backline remained resolute throughout the early exchanges.
Ahmed Atef changed the complexion of proceedings after half-time with a remarkable individual display. The striker broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute before adding a second goal five minutes later. He completed his treble in the 72nd minute, a 21-minute burst that dismantled the visitors’ defensive resistance.
The Cairo club achieved this comprehensive result without several first-team regulars, including Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal, and Mostafa Fathi. The squad depth available to the titleholders proved more than adequate to overcome the Nigerian challenge. Rivers United struggled to contain the attacking threat once the home side found their rhythm in the second period.
Finidi George’s side must now prepare for their next Group A encounter against RS Berkane of Morocco on November 28 at home. The fixture carries considerable weight for Rivers United’s qualification prospects following this opening defeat. The manager faces a tight timeframe to address the defensive frailties exposed in Egypt before hosting the Moroccan opponents.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
