In a surprising match, Orlando Pirates stunned Egyptian giants Al Ahly with a 2-1 victory at Cairo Stadium on Saturday, clinching the top spot in Group C of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The winning goal came in the 83rd minute when Gilberto capitalized on a counterattack to beat Al Ahly’s goalkeeper and seal the victory for the visitors. The opening goal was scored by Relebohile Mofokeng in the 53rd minute after a defensive error by the Egyptian backline. However, Al Ahly equalized in the 69th minute through a brilliant strike by Hussein El Shahat, who lobbed Orlando’s keeper.

Despite their efforts to level the game, the hosts faced controversy when Rami Rabia had a goal disallowed, which could have restored parity. Frustration mounted as the Egyptians failed to capitalize on their opportunities.

Al Ahly, under the guidance of Marcel Koller, finished the group stage in second place with 10 points, advancing to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates secured the top spot in the group with 14 points, showcasing their quality and determination to progress further in the tournament.

This wasn’t the only significant result of the day. In another Group C match, Algeria’s Chabab Belouizdad delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Stade d’Abidjan, but narrowly missed out on qualification, finishing third with 9 points. Stade d’Abidjan, winless in the group, ended their campaign at the bottom with just one point.

Despite the defeat, Al Ahly continues their journey in the CAF Champions League and will look to bounce back in the upcoming knockout stages.