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Tomorrow, Al Ahly will challenge Sundowns, and Pyramids will face Orlando Pirates in a fiery African clash

As the countdown begins, the continental competition heats up tomorrow (Saturday), with football fans turning their attention to the Egyptian-Southern clash

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As the countdown begins, continental competition heats up tomorrow (Saturday), with football fans eagerly anticipating the Egyptian-South African clash in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals. Al Ahly and Pyramids FC are preparing for crucial battles against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, respectively, in a clash that blends history and ambition between the Egyptian and South African clubs. All eyes will be on the Egyptian teams' performances in this major continental test, with fans hoping for a repeat of past glories and a reaffirmation of Egyptian dominance in Africa. Al Ahly, the reigning champions and record holders with 12 titles, will face South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria, while Pyramids FC, newcomers to the knockout stages, will meet Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg. These matches represent a decisive opportunity for Egyptian clubs to solidify their continental supremacy, and for South African clubs to break this monopoly. The first leg between Al Ahly and Sundowns will be held at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria at 3:00 PM Cairo time. Al Ahly, led by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, aims to continue its journey towards an unprecedented 13th title after qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 aggregate victory over Al Hilal of Sudan. Imam Ashour scored both goals in the two-legged tie, making him one of the team's key weapons. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns enters the match with high confidence after eliminating Esperance of Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate, thanks to Peter Shalulile's goal. The team, nicknamed "The Brazilians," is relying on the experience of its Portuguese coach, Miguel Cardoso, and the support of its fans to achieve a positive result in the first leg. This encounter is another chapter in the historic rivalry between the two teams, as Sundowns has previously eliminated Al Ahly in the knockout stages in recent years, adding a special dimension to the match. In the other match, Pyramids FC will visit Orlando Pirates at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg at 6:00 PM Cairo time. Pyramids FC, making their debut in the semi-finals, are aiming to make history after eliminating Morocco's FAR Rabat 4-3 on aggregate, thanks to a brace each from Fiston Mayele and Ibrahim Adel in the first leg. Orlando Pirates, champions in 1995, secured their place with a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over MC Alger, aided by Moho Nkota's goal in the first leg. The team, coached by Spaniard José Rivero, will be hoping to capitalize on home advantage before the return leg in Cairo. This match presents a significant challenge for Pyramids, who lack continental experience compared to their opponents, but possess ambition backed by substantial investment. These matches come amidst escalating competition between Egyptian and South African clubs for the African football crown. Egypt has dominated the tournament in recent years, with Al Ahly winning the title five times in the last six seasons. Meanwhile, South African clubs, led by Mamelodi Sundowns (2016 champions) and Orlando Pirates (1995 champions), are striving to reclaim continental glory. The presence of two teams from each country in the semi-finals is a rare occurrence, intensifying the competition and igniting excitement among fans. Al Ahly striker Wissam Abou Ali expressed his confidence in his team's ability to achieve a positive result in Pretoria, stating on Al Ahly's official X platform: "We are ready for the challenge, and our goal is to retain the title." Pyramids FC coach, Koller, confirmed that he has devised a sound plan to counter Sundowns, focusing on exploiting spaces on the counter-attack. At the Pyramids FC camp, coach Krunoslav Jurčić indicated that his team is not afraid of Orlando Pirates, adding: "We are playing for history, and our players have the courage to pull off an upset.".

Orlando coach Rivero stressed the importance of the first leg, saying: "We will fight to gain an advantage in Johannesburg before the tough challenge in Cairo.".

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The Saudi News Network first launched on Twitter via its official account, @SaudiNews50, and quickly became one of the Kingdom's leading independent news sources, thanks to its fast and reliable coverage of major local and international events. Due to the growing trust of its followers, the network expanded by launching its website, a comprehensive news platform offering regularly updated content in the fields of politics, economics, health, education, and national events, presented in a professional style that meets the public's expectations. The network strives to enhance public awareness and provide accurate information in a timely manner through on-the-ground reporting, in-depth analysis, and a specialized editorial team, making it a trusted source for anyone seeking up-to-the-minute Saudi news.

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Al-Nasr officially registers David Eviato ahead of the Al-Ittihad match in the Roshan League

Al-Nasr management succeeds in registering professional David Eviato in the local and continental list before the Al-Ittihad classic in the Roshan League, to strengthen the team's ranks after the recent victory over Al-Kholoud.

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Al-Nasr signs a new professional player

Al-Nassr FC's management successfully completed the registration of their new professional player, David Eviato, in both the domestic and continental squads, in a race against time before their highly anticipated match against Al-Ittihad. This swift administrative move aims to ensure the team has all its key players ready for the clash between the two giants in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled to be held at Al-Nassr's home ground, "Al-Awwal Park.".

Informed sources within the Riyadh-based club confirmed that officials completed all the necessary procedures to register David Eviato in the past few hours, making him officially eligible to participate in upcoming matches, most notably the crucial game against Al-Ittihad. Al-Nassr's management finalized the signing of Eviato during the last winter transfer window, following successful negotiations and an agreement on all financial and contractual terms, as part of the club's efforts to strengthen its squad and compete for all titles.

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense importance, transcending its status as a mere three-pointer; it represents the "classic" of Saudi football, attracting a massive following both locally and across the Arab world. Al-Nassr, bolstered by new signings, aims to assert its dominance and extend its winning streak. A victory in such a high-stakes match sends a powerful message to rivals and underscores the team's technical and physical readiness for the crucial stages of the league.

Al-Nassr enters the match with high morale after their recent 1-0 victory over Al-Kholoud, a match that showcased the team's outstanding performance. The winning goal came courtesy of Senegalese star Sadio Mane, who expertly converted a brilliant pass from his Portuguese teammate Joao Felix, demonstrating the excellent cohesion within Al-Nassr's attacking lineup. This is something the club's fans are counting on, along with the anticipated contribution of new signing David Eviato.

The registration of the new player at this sensitive time reflects the administrative professionalism and the strong desire of Al-Nasr’s management to provide all technical options for the coach, to ensure the continuation of the fierce competition for the Roshan League title, especially since the upcoming matches do not allow for a draw in light of the fierce struggle at the top of the standings.

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Nunez sparks controversy after Al-Hilal signs Benzema

Details of Darwin Nunez’s mysterious behavior and his deletion of his picture in Al-Hilal’s shirt after the club announced the signing of Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad in a sensational deal during the winter transfer window.

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Nunez sparks controversy after Al-Hilal signs Benzema

Uruguayan star Darwin Núñez sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles and on social media with a surprising and ambiguous move following the announcement of Al-Hilal's signing of French star Karim Benzema during the current winter transfer window. This comes at a time when Saudi football is experiencing significant activity in international transfers, placing every move by top players under intense scrutiny.

In detail, the Uruguayan striker deleted the photo of himself wearing Al-Hilal's jersey from his official social media accounts and replaced it with a black image, a move interpreted as an expression of ambiguity or displeasure. This coincided with Al-Hilal's completion of Benzema's transfer from Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. This action has sparked widespread speculation among fans and analysts about the connection between Benzema's arrival and Núñez's reaction, and whether it relates to a potential rivalry or a failed agreement.

In related news, Al-Hilal officials have finalized the signing of Karim Benzema on a one-and-a-half-year contract, following intensive negotiations that culminated in an agreement on all financial and contractual terms. This deal is considered a major coup in the transfer market, given the immense talent of the French striker, a Ballon d'Or winner, who is expected to significantly bolster Al-Hilal's attack in both domestic and continental competitions.

This activity comes amidst the tremendous development witnessed by the Saudi Professional League, which has become a magnet for the world's top football stars, as part of a strategic vision aimed at raising the league's competitiveness and market value. Such high-profile deals and player transfers between major clubs (like the move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal) underscore the fierce competition and the ongoing desire to strengthen squads with the best available talent to ensure championship victories.

On the field, Al-Hilal's first football team continues its intensive preparations for its upcoming matches, including its clash with Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, where Al-Hilal aims to extend its winning streak and strengthen its position in the league standings, capitalizing on the morale boost that the team's new signings may provide.

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Buckingham: Damac goalkeeper denied Al-Kholoud victory in the Roshan League

Al-Kholoud coach Des Buckingham stated that the brilliance of Damac's goalkeeper deprived his team of points in the 20th round of the Roshan League, praising his players' performance and their superiority in the second half.

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Des Buckingham, Coach of Immortality

Des Buckingham, the technical director of Al-Kholoud's first football team, expressed his relative satisfaction with the technical level shown by his players, mixed with regret over losing two valuable points, after his team's match against Damac ended in a draw, in the match that brought them together on Tuesday evening as part of the competitions of the twentieth round of the Saudi Professional League.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Buckingham highlighted the key factor that prevented his team from securing all three points, directly praising the heroic performance of Damac's goalkeeper. The coach emphasized that the goalkeeper was an impenetrable barrier against Al-Kholoud's repeated attacking attempts, denying them a victory that seemed within their grasp and thus costing them the chance to improve their position in the league standings.

In his analysis of the match, the Al-Khulood coach added that his team delivered an outstanding second half, both tactically and physically. The players successfully created numerous scoring opportunities and reached the opponent's goal on several occasions. He explained that the lack of a final touch and the opposing goalkeeper's brilliance were the main reasons for the match ending in a draw. At the same time, he praised the fighting spirit displayed by his players and their clear desire to win until the final whistle.

This match takes on particular importance given the two teams' positions in the Roshan League standings. The competition is fierce, not only at the top but also in the middle and relegation zones. Matches between teams closely matched in points are considered "six-point" encounters, where a win directly impacts their chances of staying up and improving their position, which explains the coach's disappointment at missing out on victory.

This statement reflects the immense pressure faced by coaches in the Saudi League, which has become a global focus due to its rapid development and its attraction of top players and coaches, making every point crucial in the final standings. The ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is a decisive factor in determining the fate of teams as the final third of the season approaches.

It is worth noting that the draw raised Al-Kholoud's points to (16), thus occupying the fourteenth position in the standings, maintaining the four-point difference that separates it from its competitor in this match, Damac, which comes in the fifteenth position, which keeps the struggle open and heated between the two teams to move away from the danger zones in the coming rounds.

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