It’s not just a final.

It’s a collision of legacy and ambition, pedigree and purpose, as Mamelodi Sundowns welcome Pyramids FC to Loftus Versfeld Stadium for the first leg of the 2024–25 CAF Champions League final.

This marks the third-ever meeting between the South African champions and the Egyptian upstarts, with Sundowns holding the edge so far: one draw, one win, and zero goals conceded.

The most recent showdown in December 2023 saw Teboho Mokoena’s first-half strike seal a 1-0 win in Cairo. But this time, there’s far more than group-stage bragging rights on the line.

What’s at Stake? Everything.

For Sundowns, a second CAF Champions League title would further cement their status as a continental powerhouse. It would also crown an extraordinary continental campaign led by Miguel Cardoso, a tactician who has already made history. Cardoso becomes just the second coach after Oscar Fullone (in 1998 and 1999) to lead two different clubs to the final in consecutive seasons.

For Pyramids, a club founded just 16 years ago, this is uncharted territory. Their rise has been meteoric, fuelled by ambition, investment, and belief. Lifting the Champions League would be the ultimate validation of their project — and would make them just the fourth Egyptian club to win it after Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily.

And for both sides — it’s not just about a trophy. It’s about legacy. Global exposure. Prize money. Super Cup qualification. A FIFA Club World Cup ticket. And the right to call themselves the best in Africa.

Sundowns: The Return of the Yellow Machine

It hasn’t been a quiet season in Tshwane. After a rollercoaster group stage and a dramatic semi-final victory over holders Al Ahly, Sundowns arrive at the final hardened, focused, and hungrier than ever.

Coach Miguel Cardoso has revitalised the Brazilians since his arrival in December. His structured, pressing system has brought out the best in stars like Iqraam Rayners and Peter Shalulile, who share top scorer honors for Sundowns this campaign.Speaking at the final’s press conference, Cardoso praised his team’s evolution: “This team has grown under pressure. We’ve faced giants, and never flinched. Now we play not just for ourselves — we play for the badge, for our fans, and for South African football.”

Sundowns also bring rich final experience to the table — this will be their third CAF CL final, having battled Al Ahly in 2001 and Zamalek in their triumphant 2016 campaign.

Pyramids FC: The Dream Continues

On the other side stands Pyramids FC, a club that not long ago didn’t even exist in the African elite conversation. But under the leadership of Krunoslav Jurčić, they’ve bulldozed their way into the final, and they’re not in Pretoria for a sightseeing tour.

The Croatian tactician, the first from his country to reach a CAF CL final, guided Pyramids to their first-ever Egyptian Cup in 2023–24. Now, he wants more.

“Reaching the final is a beautiful story,” Jurčić said. “But we want a fairy-tale ending. We’ve worked for this. We believe.”

They’ll lean heavily on the explosive form of Fiston Mayele, the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, and the creativity of Mostafa Fathi, the only Pyramids player to appear in every match since the group stages — adding two goals and three assists.

Head-to-Head: Familiar Faces, Different Stakes

This won’t be the first chess match between these two tacticians. But it’s the first time the stakes are this high. In past CAF finals between Egyptian and South African sides, Egypt leads 3-1 — with Sundowns’ 2016 triumph over Zamalek the only win for South Africa.

Can Sundowns level the historical narrative? Or will Pyramids become Egypt’s next great champion?Saturday’s first leg in Pretoria isn’t just the start of a two-legged final. It’s a chapter in a much larger story — about tradition, modern football empires, and the shifting balance of African power.

History favours Sundowns. Momentum favours Pyramids. But football? Football favours the bold.