Defending champions Pyramids defeated South Sudanese side Mreikh Bentiu 4-0 to complete a 5-0 aggregate victory, while Zamalek beat Rwanda’s APR FC 1-0 for a 2-0 aggregate success.
Guinea’s Horoya AC also booked a group-stage place after overcoming Sudanese club Al Merrikh on penalties, following a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Pyramids cruise past Mreikh Bentiu
Pyramids delivered a commanding performance at Cairo’s Air Defence Stadium, scoring four goals to confirm their progress without conceding across the two legs.
Abdelrahman Magdy opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a powerful left-footed finish. The forward struck again seven minutes later, converting directly from a corner delivered by Mohamed Chibi.
Mostafa Fathi extended the advantage in first-half stoppage time, finding the net in the 45+2nd minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Algerian forward Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali completed the scoring in the 71st minute with another left-footed finish.
Benbouali was subsequently forced off through injury in the 75th minute and replaced by Hamed Hamdan.
Pyramids had won the first leg 1-0 in Juba through Mahmoud Saber, leaving them with a comfortable aggregate victory.
The qualification marks Pyramids’ fourth consecutive appearance in the Champions League group stage as they pursue another continental title.
Zamalek return to group stage
Zamalek also confirmed their place in the next phase with a 1-0 home win over APR FC at Cairo International Stadium.
Ahmed Sherif scored the decisive goal just 45 seconds after kick-off, finishing into an unguarded net following a cross from Omar Gaber.
The early strike gave Zamalek breathing space after their 1-0 victory in the first leg in Rwanda. Despite creating further opportunities, the Egyptian side could not add to their lead.
APR attempted to respond but failed to find an equaliser, allowing Zamalek to complete a 2-0 aggregate triumph.
The result takes the Cairo club back to the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2022/23 season. Five-time African champions Zamalek will now seek to make a deeper run in the competition after their previous group-stage elimination.
Horoya progress after penalty shootout
Guinean side Horoya AC joined the Egyptian clubs in the group stage after eliminating Sudanese giants Al Merrikh on penalties.
Mohamed Kabani scored the only goal of the second leg in Kigali, Rwanda, as Al Merrikh won 1-0 to level the aggregate score at 1-1. Horoya had claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Conakry.
The tie was therefore decided by a penalty shootout, where Horoya converted all four of their attempts while Al Merrikh missed twice.
The result ended Al Merrikh’s qualification hopes and sent Horoya through to the group stage.
Focus shifts to the group-stage draw
Pyramids, Zamalek and Horoya can now turn their attention to the group-stage draw and preparations for the next phase of Africa’s premier club competition.
For Pyramids, qualification offers an opportunity to continue their continental title defence. Zamalek will be looking to re-establish themselves among Africa’s leading clubs, while Horoya return to the group stage after surviving a tense two-legged contest.
The group stage is scheduled to begin towards the end of November, with the qualified teams set to discover their opponents in the draw.