CAF Champions League glory is up for grabs as Mamelodi Sundowns take on Pyramids FC in the second leg of the final.
CAF Champions League
Teams: Pyramids FC v Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 01 June 2025
Venue: 30 June Air Defence Stadium
The Egyptian giants hold the advantage heading into the clash after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last weekend, where they snatched a late away goal.
Sundowns, however, are no strangers to getting the job done in Egypt as they secured a 1-0 win over Pyramids when the two sides met in the group stages last season.
While Sundowns have had the full week to prepare for the second leg, Pyramids were involved in Egyptian Premier League action on Wednesday evening despite their attempts to postpone the clash.
The Egyptian will be aiming to claim their first continental title this evening, while Sundowns are aiming to claim their first Champions League title since 2016.
Here’s how they line up:
Pyramids: El Shenawy, Samy, Marie, Chibi, Hamdy, Lashin, Toure, El Karty, Atef, Sobhi, Mayele
The viral #BootsOnlySummer hashtag may have seemed like satire when it bubbled up on TikTok in early May, but it looks like the trend could have staying power throughout the summer.
In lieu of wearing studded cleats, brands are introducing modified boots with TPU shells wrapping their would-be spikes, and it’s not just modified cushioning like what’s been seen on the Nike Total 90 and Kith’s recent Adidas Soccer collection.
The latest batch of street-ready boots, such as the upcoming Adidas F50 Adiframe, are largely unchanged versions which don’t remove the studs, but instead wrap them in a translucent casing. Now, Nike is hitting the pitch with its own take on the concept.
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Revealed Friday via Nike Football’s official social media channels with further teasers shared by brand partners, the new Nike Cryoshot series includes lifestyle spins on Ronaldo’s Mercurial R9 cleats and Ronaldinho’s Tiempo Legend R10, both in their respective classic colors.
Nike debuted the Cryoshot Tiempo Legend R10 and Cryoshot Mercurial R9.
Nike
On Saturday, Patta co-founder Guillaume “Gee” Schmidt shared a look at a third pair: a Patta x Nike Cryoshot Mercurial collaboration. With metallic silver striping, the style features similar color blocking to Ronaldo’s pair, but mixes in black and orange in place of the original blue and yellow. Patta’s version features a long-tongue attachment stamped with the Amsterdam brand’s logo. Patta has also recently been teasing the launch of its Air Max 90 “Waves” collaboration.
Along with Schmidt’s teaser, Corteiz founder Clint Ogbenna shared an in-hand look at the Cryoshot Mercurial R9 while attending Paris Saint-Germain’s dominating Champions League win over Inter.
Patta co-founder Guillaume “Gee” Schmidt debuted a Patta x Nike Cryoshot Mercurial collaboration.
@geepatta
Soccer-informed footwear has been an enduring trend in recent years. From the Adidas Samba to the Louis Vuitton Footprint, the movement has infiltrated both the sportswear and high fashion industries.
Despite the multiple teasers, release and pricing information for the Nike Cryoshot was not announced, however the franchise is expected to be introduced at retail during summer 2025.
Corteiz founder Clint Ogbenna shared an in-hand look at the Nike Cryoshot Mercurial R9.
Manchester United have confirmed the first big-money signing of the transfer window.
The Red Devils have confirmed the signing of Brazil international Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Read: Liverpool Confirm First 25/26 Signing
The Brazilians becomes the second signing in the Ruben Amorim and the first for the 25/26 season.
Statement:
Manchester United has reached agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the signing of Matheus Cunha.
The Brazilian forward’s signing is subject to visa and registration.
The 26 year-old has 13 senior caps for Brazil, and, in his club career, has made 270 appearances and scored 72 goals in the English, Spanish, German and Swiss top flights.
Read: Transfer Update: Bruno Fernandes
During two-and-a-half seasons at Wolves, Cunha has scored 33 goals in 92 appearances.
Everyone at Manchester United looks forward to welcoming Matheus to Old Trafford.
Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with a surprise move to an African team ahead of the new season.
The French midfielder has been a free agent since parting ways with Serie A outfit Juventus in the January transfer window.
Read: Riveiro Brings African Star Back To Al Ahly Squad
Pogba is eligible to play competitive football after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months last year.
Reports in Morocco claim CAF Confederation Cup champions RS Berkane were looking to make a move for the World Cup winner on a free transfer.
There were also reports claiming Wydad Casablanca could make a move for Pogba by trying to lure the midfielder by offering him a chance to compete at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Journalist Adel Al-Amari has now revealed that Pogba has no desire to play on the African continent is keen to stay in Europe.
“The information I have is that the player will not play in Africa,” Al-Amari said, as per LeSiteInfo.
“He refused Wydad and will not accept to play for Nahdat Berkane, unless other matters occur that change the player’s thinking and convictions.”
PARIS (AP) — Translate Desire Doue’s name into English and you get the words “coveted” and “gifted.”
Both seem highly appropriate, considering how the 19-year-old’s stunning performance for Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s Champions League final launched him into soccer’s stratosphere, making Doué a player every team would love to have.
Doué scored with two clinical finishes in a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan after setting up PSG’s first goal with a remarkable piece of close control. Controlling the ball on his left foot and spinning in one swift movement inside the penalty area, he then effortlessly switched feet and passed with his right to Achraf Hakimi.
“I really don’t have the words to describe how I feel. What we did is magical. We showed we are a great side collectively,” said Doué, who turns 20 on Tuesday. “There are a lot of young players in the side who still need to improve, I am among them.”
Doué improving is quite a scary thought, given how good he already is.
A game-changing ability
When Doué joined PSG from Rennes for around 50 million euros ($55 million) in the offseason, it appeared a hefty fee for an unproven young player.
Except for the fans who closely followed Ligue 1, he was largely unknown in France and beyond. Furthermore, his return of eight goals in 76 games hardly suggested he would become a dangerous scorer.
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But Rennes is one of the best youth academies in European soccer. Doué’s PSG teammate Ousmane Dembele came through the ranks there as did Mathys Tel before joining Bayern Munich.
PSG coach Luis Enrique, who coached Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar when Barcelona won the Champions League in 2015, saw a game-changing ability in Doué.
He was proved right.
Doué’s emergence in the second part of the season saw him take goal-scoring winger Bradley Barcola’s place in the starting lineup. It also coincided with PSG’s revival in the Champions League after a difficult group stage where the club lost to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern.
Doué held his nerve in the penalty shootout win against Liverpool in March, scoring the decisive kick in emphatic style to send PSG into the quarterfinals. Later that month, he also scored for France in a penalty shootout win in the Nations League.
Doué kept improving in the big games
Doué equalized in the quarterfinal first leg against Aston Villa in Paris and scored five goals in the competition.
Overall he scored 15 goals for PSG this season, including spectacular curlers from outside the penalty area with his right foot.
His silky close control, allied to an ability to wrong-foot defenders, made him a vital part of PSG’s intricate approach play, particularly in confined spaces. His unorthodox dribbling is often brilliant, but does not always come off, so he reigned it in.
“I sometimes overdo it a bit, but I try to keep my personality. When you play, you know there are areas where you have to build, release the ball, and others where you have more freedom,” Doué said. “I analyze my matches and my training sessions a lot. I try to always maintain my discipline, and I hope that will take me to the very, very high level.”
Doué said that back in April.
On Saturday night he achieved it, and joined Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal among the most coveted young players in world soccer.
They could face each other on Thursday, when France plays Spain in the Nations League semifinals.
