Founded less than two decades ago and reformulated in the last seven years, Pyramids, from Egypt, challenges Flamengo with 130 years of history in Qatar in a duel that exposes two distinct worlds of football.
The Egyptian club, a symbol of a new investment model and accelerated rise, is trying to convert speed into tradition, while the red and black team carries the weight of those who have been deciding big games for more than a century. This Saturday’s clash (13), at 2 pm (Brasília time), in Doha, is worth a place in the final of the Intercontinental Cup — the former Club World Cup — against Paris Saint-Germain.
Flamengo competes in the competition as current champions of the Libertadores. At the end of last month, by beating Palmeiras in the final, they became the first Brazilian club to win four-times champions of the tournament. Pyramids, in turn, represents African football after winning, for the first time, the CAF (African Football Confederation) Champions League in the 2024/25 season.
This title marked the highest point in the history of the club, opened in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport, then a modest team, without national expression and far from the major centers of Egypt. The first stint in the elite occurred in 2014, followed by relegation. In 2016, the team returned to the first division and, two years later, was purchased by billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh, former president of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia and former honorary president of Al-Ahly.
It was Al-Sheikh who renamed the association Pyramids and promoted investments that changed its status. In addition to the new name, the club was transferred from Assiut to New Cairo, ceasing to be a supporting player and becoming a national player once and for all. In 2019, Al-Sheikh passed control to Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, an investor from the United Arab Emirates.
Under the new management, Pyramids built a modern training center, with international standards, and started to sign players capable of competing on equal terms with their main local rivals, especially Al Ahly and Zamalek.
Some Brazilians have been part of the project over the years, including Rodriguinho (ex-Corinthians), Keno (ex-Palmeiras), Ribamar (ex-Athletico), Carlos Eduardo (ex-Mirassol) and coach Alberto Valentim, who played for Palmeiras, Vasco and Botafogo.
Currently, only one Brazilian is part of the squad, Ewerton Silva, hired in July as the main reinforcement for the 2025/26 season, for 2.8 million euros (around R$17.8 million).
But the club’s connection with Brazil goes further. Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić, responsible for the team’s most successful phase, directs a squad that includes a “Zico” and a “Dunga”. The first is Mostafa Mohamed Zaki Abdelraouf, a 28-year-old striker who wears the number 30 shirt and scored one of the goals in the 3-0 victory over Auckland City, in the Intercontinental debut. The nickname is a tribute to Flamengo’s idol, shared by his father.
“They commented on this Zico. Let’s watch videos of him, study what he does best, to neutralize it. But there is only one Zico, there is only our Zico. We will arrive with a lot of humility to come away with victory”, joked Flamengo midfielder Evertton Araújo.
Dunga is Mahmoud Abdelaati, 32, midfielder and shirt number 13.
Despite the Brazilian nicknames, Pyramids’ main player is Congolese Fiston Mayele, the team’s top scorer this season, with 9 goals in 21 games, and scorer of the three goals against Al Ahli in the second phase of the Intercontinental.
“Mayele was decisive in the game against Al Ahli, perhaps the most decisive of the team, but Pyramids is a very solid team, it’s not just about one player”, analyzed Filipe Luís, Flamengo coach.
Until the duel with the Brazilians, Pyramids eliminated Auckland City in the first phase (3-0) and beat Al Ahli 3-1 in the second. Flamengo secured a place in the semi-finals by eliminating Cruz Azul.
Now, the winner will face PSG in the decision, scheduled for Wednesday (17), at 2 pm (Brasília time).
