Marumo Gallants have qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals after defeating Pyramids 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final on Sunday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Marumo Gallants 1-0 Pyramids FC
Date: 30 April 2023
Venue: Royal Bafokeng
Gallants were unchanged from their 1-1 draw in the first-leg in Cairo, as Ranga Chivaviro, Letsie Koapeng and Sibusiso Sibeko led the attack. Pyramids, meanwhile, recalled South African striker Fagray Lakay, who missed the first-leg.
Pyramids started on a high note as they put Bahlabane Ba Ntwa under a lot of pressure but the home side survived the first 20 minutes before Walid El Karti got their first effort on target with a header that was saved by goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The Limpopo side were combining well going forward and Lucky Mohomi fancied his chances on the half-hour mark with a strike from outside the box that forced a save out of shot-stopper Ahmed El Shenawy.
Gallants eventually broke the deadlock through the boot of Celimpilo Ngema just before the break, who made it 2-1 on aggregate with a strike in the box after sustained pressure.
Pyramids were fired up from the break and Lakay had a good chance ten minutes in after he had space to shoot from a mistake in the box but he looped his powerful shot wide.
Gallants had a wake-up call as Chivaviro had a chance to double their lead just after that with a strike in the box that was kept out of the top corner by El Shenawy.
The Egyptian side had urgency going forward and Lakay had another chance in the box with 18 minutes remaining after his shot was smothered by Arubi.
With Pyramids desperate for the equaliser in the last eight minutes, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa made a double tactical change to add numbers in midfield and at the back as Sibusiso Kumalo and Ayanda Nkili both came on for Chivaviro and Sibeko.
Gallants slowed down the tempo of the game in the closing minutes, as they frustrated the Egyptian side but Mohamed El Gabbas had a last-gasp chance for the visitors with a header in stoppage time that was saved in the bottom corner by Arubi.
The Limpopo side in the end clinched a historic 1-0 win on the night and 2-1 on aggregate to book a spot in the semi-finals for the first time.
Here's how they lined up:
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Mvelase, Toure, Gumede, Mabotja, Mohomi, Ngema, Nku, Sibeko, Koapeng, Chivaviro
Subs: Watenga, Nkili, Otladisa, Mphambaniso, Mdlinzo, Nkosi, Kumalo, Makudubela
Pyramids: El Shennawy, Ali Gabr, Fathy, Chibi, Hamdy, Toure, Tawfik, Elkarti, Fathy, Sobhi, Lakay
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