During the press conference after the first leg in South Africa, Jurčić emphasized that the support of Egyptian fans will be a decisive factor in the return match. He pointed out that Pyramids players represent Egyptian football with great honor and deserve backing from everyone, whether fans of Al Ahly, Zamalek, or any other club.
The African Dream on Egyptian Feet
The coach explained that his players delivered a strong performance in the first leg, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Pretoria, despite the tough conditions and the strength of the opponent. He considered the positive result to give the team great hope for winning the title, stressing that the current goal is to inscribe Egypt’s name on the continent’s most prestigious trophy.
First Leg Match: A Thrilling Last-Minute Draw
The first leg saw a highly competitive game between the two sides, with the first half ending goalless amid cautious play. In the second half, Sundowns took the lead with a goal by Lucas Ribeiro, before Walid El Karti snatched an equalizer for Pyramids in the fourth minute of stoppage time, keeping the team’s hopes alive ahead of the return match in Cairo.