CAFCL: Holders Pyramids held by Ethiopian Insurance in first leg

Ethiopian Insurance held reigning CAF Champions League (CAFCL) winners Pyramids to a 1–1 draw in the second qualifying round, first-leg tie in Cairo. The Ethiopian champions were forced to play their home game in Egypt due to a CAF ban on the Abebe Bikila Memorial Stadium issued a week ago.

The holders dominated the proceedings for most of the encounter and took the lead when DR Congo international Fiston Mayele scored with a simple tap-in after a dreadful defensive buildup by Insurance.

The hosts were the better side, keeping Insurance goalkeeper Fasil Gebremichael busy throughout the game. Gebremichael, who left Fasil Kenema to join the Ethiopian champions at the start of the season, was the hero as he made several crucial saves.

Insurance were limited to counterattacks but grew more dangerous in the second half. They scored the equalizer in spectacular fashion, with Biruk Mulugeta finishing off a fine move seven minutes before full time.

Pyramids will be hoping to progress to the group stage when the second leg takes place on Thursday, but Ethiopian Insurance will face them with renewed confidence. Insurance now joins a few Ethiopian sides in history that have pulled off surprising results in Egypt.

Before them, Addis Ababa rivals Ethiopian Coffee and Saint George recorded positive results against Al Ahly, Zamalek, and ENPPI in African club competitions.