Former Uganda Cranes goalkeeper and captain Dennis Onyango came agonizingly close to clinching his second CAF Champions League trophy.
Onyango’s team, Mamelodi Sundowns, were narrowly edged out by Egyptian side Pyramids FC in a gripping two-legged final.
The first leg, held last week in South Africa, ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
However, Pyramids sealed their historic triumph in Egypt on Sunday, winning the second leg 2-1 to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Fiston Mayele scored his ninth Champions League goal of the season, ultimately earning him the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Ahmed Samy doubled Pyramids’ lead in the 56th minute before Iqraam Rayners pulled one back for Sundowns in the 75th minute.
Despite a tense finish, the Egyptian side held firm to claim their first-ever Champions League crown.
Pyramids FC’s victory marks a remarkable milestone for the club, which was founded in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport before rebranding in 2018.
In just 17 years, they have reached the pinnacle of African club football.
They are now level with Mamelodi Sundowns, who won their sole Champions League title in 2016.
It’s also worth noting the Ugandan connection: a year after their rebranding, Pyramids brought in former Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre in 2019.
He was accompanied by winger Abdu Lumala, who had delivered a strong performance for Uganda at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
While Onyango’s bid for a second Champions League trophy fell short this time, his legacy remains strong, and the future could still hold more glory for the veteran goalkeeper.
