African champions Pyramids win and reach group stage

CAF Champions League title-holders Pyramids of Egypt defeated Insurance of Ethiopia 2-0 on Thursday to secure a place in the group stage.

Mostafa Ziko headed the Cairo club in front on 11 minutes and a Birikit Kikaleb own goal in the first minute of added time sealed success.

Ziko did have the ball in the net again soon after putting Pyramids ahead, but the goal was ruled offside. TV replays appeared to show the scorer being onside when the ball was passed to him.

Pyramids, who lifted the premier African club trophy last season at only the second attempt, won the final round qualifier 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 first-leg draw last Sunday.

The home ground of Champions League debutants Insurance in Addis Ababa did not meet CAF approval so the Ethiopians chose to play both legs in Cairo, rather than use a neutral venue for the first match.

Victory for Pyramids raised to 15 the number of clubs who have qualified for the group draw, scheduled for Johannesburg on Monday.

Renaissance Berkane of Morocco or Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya will complete the line after they meet on Saturday. The first leg in the Libyan capital was a 1-1 draw.

Despite being champions, Pyramids will be second rather than top seeds as the placings are decided by results over the past five seasons.

Egypt will have two representatives as record 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly qualified last weekend with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Aigle Noir of Burundi.