Rulani Mokwena’s Pyramids kicked off the weekend’s African Champions League ties with an away win that gives them one foot in the group phase competition.

The Cairo club were on the road against South Sudan’s Al Merreikh Bentiu in Juba on Friday for the first leg of their second-round tie and won 1-0.

Mahmoud Saber’s 30th-minute goal ensured the away victory, which now sees Pyramids in a strong position to qualify for the group phase for a fourth successive year when they host the second leg in Cairo next Saturday.

South African coach Mokwena, who has previously worked in Algeria, Libya and Morocco, has made a flying start to his new job in the Egyptian capital with a 100 per cent perfect start to the new league season, with 13 goals in six matches from Pyramids, which is the most by any of the Egyptian sides.

They are top of the Egyptian league standings and Friday’s success was a 10th win out of 10 in all competitions for Mokwena at the club.

Pyramids beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2025 Champions League final after eliminating Orlando Pirates in the semi.

Last season, as defending champions, they went out at the quarterfinal stage to eventual runners-up Royal Armed Forces of Morocco.

The 16-team group phase kicks off in December.