Reigning champions of the CAF Champions League, Pyramids FC started their title defense on a brilliant note.
The defending champions made light work of the Nigerian side, Rivers United on Saturday night at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
Rivers United displayed solid defensive work in the first half as they denied the hosts space to operate in the final third.
However, the Pride of Rivers fell apart a few minutes into the second half as the host capitalised on a loose ball in midfield.
Osage Onisodumeya made an initial save but 22-year-old Egyptian forward Ahmed Atef capitalized on the rebound to put Pyramids ahead.
Ahmed Atef doubled the lead five minutes later with a brilliant header off a measured cross by Karim Hafez.
Atef sealed his hat trick in the 72nd minute to cap a fantastic display on the night to the dismay of Rivers United.
His hat trick sealed a comfortable 3-0 win over Rivers United as the Port Harcourt-based club kick-started their debut campaign in the group stage of the competition on a disappointing note.
Meanwhile, former champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, and the most successful club in the competition’s history, Al Ahly started their respective campaigns with home victories.
Mamelodi Sundowns dispatched debutants St Eloi Lupopo 3-1 while Al Ahly dismantled Algerian side JS Kabylie 4-1.
RS Berkane breezed past Power Dynamos as Esperance were held to a stalemate by Stade Malien
