Incomplete joy.. the tax of the African victory puts Pyramids' in a dilemma
Pyramids FC will be without defenders Mahmoud Marei and Eyad El Askalany for their decisive CAF Champions League return leg against El Merriekh Bentiu after both players received suspensions during Friday's 1-0 victory in South Sudan.
The Egyptian club secured an important away win at Juba Stadium on 16 October, with Mahmoud Saber scoring the only goal of the match in the 30th minute.
However, the victory came at a significant cost for head coach Rulani Mokwena who must now reorganise his defence before the second leg in Cairo on 24 October.
According to the Confederation of African Football CAF, both Marei and El Askalany will miss the return fixture through suspension, leaving Pyramids without two defensive options for a crucial qualifying match.
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Why will Mahmoud Marei and Iyad El Askalany miss the second leg?
The two defenders will be unavailable for different disciplinary reasons.
Marei received a second yellow card in the closing stages of Friday's match, resulting in his dismissal in the 89th minute.
The red card automatically rules the centre-back out of the return encounter against the South Sudanese champions.
El Askalany, meanwhile, accumulated his third yellow card of the current Champions League campaign.
The defender had already received two bookings during Pyramids' first preliminary round encounters against Gor Mahia of Kenya.
His latest caution against El Merriekh Bentiu triggered a suspension, meaning Mokwena must prepare for the decisive fixture without either player.
The absences are particularly frustrating because Pyramids managed to maintain a clean sheet in Juba despite finishing the match with ten men.
Rulani Mokwena faces defensive selection challenge
The double suspension creates an important tactical problem for Mokwena at a decisive stage of the competition.
Pyramids have built their recent success on defensive organisation and an ability to control matches but the South African coach must now adjust his back line without two members of his squad.
The challenge becomes more significant given that Pyramids hold only a one goal advantage.
Although a draw in Cairo would be enough to secure qualification, conceding an early goal could completely change the complexion of the tie.
Mokwena will therefore need to identify replacements capable of maintaining defensive stability while allowing his side to exploit their attacking strength.
The coach nevertheless has reasons for optimism.
As Foot Africa reported following the victory in Juba, the result extended Pyramids' winning streak to ten consecutive matches across all competitions since his appointment in July.
Maintaining that momentum without Marei and El Askalany represents another test of his squad management.
Mahmoud Saber gives Pyramids the advantage
Despite the disciplinary setbacks, Pyramids returned from South Sudan with a valuable result.
Saber's first half goal proved decisive, allowing the Egyptian side to establish control of the two legged encounter.
The midfielder also scored during Pyramids' opening qualifying victory against Gor Mahia in September, underlining his ability to contribute in important continental fixtures.
Pyramids eliminated the Kenyan champions 7-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 away before recording an emphatic 5-1 victory in Cairo.
Their latest success against El Merriekh Bentiu provides another opportunity to advance in a competition they won for the first time in 2025.
However, the South Sudanese champions should not be underestimated.
They reached the second preliminary round after eliminating Somalia's Heegan FC 4-0 on aggregate, demonstrating their ability to compete successfully in continental qualifying matches.
When is Pyramids' decisive Champions League return leg?
Pyramids will host El Merriekh Bentiu at the Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Saturday 24 October.
The Egyptian side enters the encounter with a 1-0 aggregate advantage, needing to avoid defeat to progress to the group stage.
As Foot Africa highlighted in its preview of Egypt's final qualifying hurdle, the second preliminary round will determine the 16 clubs competing in the group stage which begins in late November.
Mokwena's immediate priority is now to find a reliable defensive combination capable of protecting Pyramids' slender advantage.
The absence of Marei and El Askalany complicates preparations, but the Egyptian club remains in a favourable position to complete qualification in front of its home supporters.
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