Foreign trio help Egyptian club Pyramids become African champions

Congolese prolific scorer Fiston Mayele, Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic and Emirati businessman Salem al Shamsi played key roles as Pyramids became the fourth Egyptian club to be crowned African champions.

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Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids beat South African rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Sunday in Cairo and 3-2 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League final.

Mayele, 30, scored nine of the 37 Pyramids goals in 16 matches en route to glory and repaid the transfer fee when he moved to Egypt from Tanzanian club Young Africans in mid 2023.

His goal haul was the best in the Champions League this season, with seven-goal Youcef Belaili from Tunisian outfit Esperance the Golden Boot runners-up.

Born in the central Congo city of Mbuji-Mayi, Mayele began his professional career in 2019. He played for V Club in Kinshasa and Young Africans before moving to Egypt.

Often seemingly invisible in a match, his predatory instincts put in the right place at the right time often allows him to deliver his clinical finishing.