CCL finals first leg: Sundowns v Pyramids preview, kick-off time, venue, referee, probable lineups

Date: Saturday 24th May 2025
Time: 1 pm
Venue: Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium (Pretoria)
Referee: Mohamed Allou (Chad)
TV Broadcast: Supersport, Canal Plus, Bein Sports 

The 2024-25 CAF Champions League finals will be contested between South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns and the rising Egyptian side Pyramids.

The two teams undoubtedly have been the best thus far in the competition, having resisted all sorts of threats from their opponents right from the preliminary rounds, group stage throughout to the knockout stage.

The Egyptian side, Pyramids, will be playing in their first CAF Champions League finals in their second-ever campaign in the Money Zone of the competition. They finished bottom of their group last season, leading to much criticism from their rivals concerning the way they spend money.

Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic has found the right balance and rhythm for the Cairo-based club and is optimistic his side can get favourable results ahead of the second leg in Cairo. Even though Sundowns are a formidable side, Jurcic says he has identified some of their weaknesses when speaking in the pre-match conference.

“We identified our opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. We have prepared a balanced plan between attack and defence, hoping to return with a positive result from South Africa that will strengthen the team’s position before the second leg,’ Jurcic.

Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed that Lucas Moripe’s Masterpieces Stadium in Pretoria is sold out, so they expect nothing but yellow colours outside and inside the venue to cheer the boys on.

Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardozo is playing his second CAF Champions League finals after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Al Ahly with Esperance de Tunis in the 2023-24 season. Cardozo is well known for always chasing solidity and compactness, making his side one of the most difficult teams to break.

Sundowns lifted their record-extending 15th Betway Premiership title in a grand style, but head coach Cardozo thinks the CAF Champions League is on a different level.

“According to the Premiership, this is another level we’re going to face. We have a very tough challenge ahead with this Champions League final. We are also tough people. And I would say that God gives the strongest fights to His strongest warriors. That’s what we need to be – warriors, but most of all, high-quality football players,” Cardozo said.

Team News

It looks clear that both teams will have their best players available for the finals on Saturday afternoon.

Probable Sundowns line-up

4-2-3-1

Ronwen Williams

Mudau-Lebusa-Kekana-Modiba (DF)

Allende-Mokoena (DM)

Ribeiro-Adams-Mathews (AM)

Iqram Reyners (CF)

Probable Pyramids line up

4-4-2

Ak Shenawy (GK)

Marei-Samy-Chibi-Hamdi

Fathi-El Karti-Lasheen-Toure

Mayele-Hafez

H2H

Both teams were in the same group of the Champions League last season, with Sundowns drawing goalless at home and winning 1-0 in Egypt.

Predictoion

Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Pyramids