FAR qualified 3-2 on aggregate for the semi-finals of the premier African club competition. They will face compatriots Renaissance Berkane or Al Hilal of Sudan during April.

Reda Slim put FAR ahead on nine minutes and captain Mohamed Hrimat added a second goal in the 54th minute. Mahmoud Mayele pulled one goal back for Pyramids just past the hour mark.

Pyramids believed they should have been awarded a penalty when trailing 1-0 in the first half when a cross from Ahmed Atef struck the left arm of Hrimat.

After a lengthy delay, the Mauritanian referee viewed the incident on the VAR monitor and chose not to award a spot kick.

FAR became the first Moroccan winners of the competition in 1985, when it was known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs.

But they made little impact in eight previous appearances since the name and format were changed 12 years later with groups introduced.

Victory was particularly sweet for the Rabat outfit as they lost to Pyramids at the same stage of the Champions League last season.

After coming from behind to force a 1-1 first leg draw with FAR in Morocco last week, Pyramids were expected to win the return match in the Egyptian capital.

Pyramids began the second leg as the only one of the eight title contenders boasting an unbeaten record. They won eight and drew three of 11 qualifying and group matches.

FAR had won once, lost once and drawn three times in away matches en route to the knockout phase under Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos.

The other Egyptian challengers, Al Ahly, host Esperance of Tunisia later on Saturday in another second leg in Cairo. Esperance lead 1-0 from the first encounter.

On Sunday, Hilal host Berkane after a 1-1 first-leg draw. Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa take on Stade Malien of Mali in Bamako having built a 3-0 advantage.