CAFCL; AS FAR targets quarterfinal victory against Pyramids FC in Cairo.

Photo Credit: AS FAR Media

EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.

In the spring humidity of Cairo, where history is made amidst the echoes of the Nile and the fervor of African stadiums, Rabat club AS FAR is preparing to play a crucial match: the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal against Pyramids FC, this Tuesday at the June 30 Stadium.

The faces are focused, but the gazes betray no fear. Abdelhakim Mesbah, one of the squad's promising prospects, sets the scene clearly:

"We arrived in Egypt in the best possible conditions. The match won't be easy, but we have a single obsession: to bring home a positive result that will allow us to approach the return leg in Rabat with confidence."

A statement that reflects the spirit of a tight-knit locker room, driven by the conviction that nothing is given away at this stage of the competition; everything is won with discipline and courage. And as Moaad Bougouzan, one of the most prominent defenders this season, points out:

"The training sessions took place in a family atmosphere. We represent a club with a great history. We came to win, to honor our fans."

AS FAR will be without two key players: goalkeeper Ayoub El Khayati, still recovering from a torn thigh muscle, and the dynamic winger Hicham Boussefiane, who withdrew at the last minute. In goal, Hamza Hamiani, former goalkeeper for RS Berkane, will be the Red and Blacks' goalkeeper for this high-profile clash.

But within the squad, no one is using the absences as an excuse. On the contrary, confidence reigns among the substitutes, and the unity of the dressing room is a key strength.

Tonight's opponent, Pyramids FC, is no novice on the African stage. A CAF Confederation Cup finalist in 2020, the Egyptian club has ambitiously climbed into the big leagues. However, AS FAR, basking in its glorious past—having won the Champions League in 1985—is intent on writing a new chapter on the continent.