Marumo Gallants booked their place in the Caf Confederation Cup semi-finals after they stunned Egyptian giants Pyramids FC on Sunday evening.

Celimpilo Ngema scored on minute 39 to give the home team a 1-0 win at home and a surprising 2-1 win overall in the quarter-final.

With only three rounds left in the domestic league, Marumo are only two points above the relegation zone. They have only won five of their 27 games.

But a team made up almost entirely of players who were cut from other top clubs has done well in the second-best African league this season, winning eight games and drawing one.

Even South African football fans didn’t think Marumo would make it to the semi-finals after they were paired with Pyramids, who were the runners-up in the 2020 Confederations Cup.

But Gallants won the first leg in Cairo until they gave away a late penalty that former Premier League winger Ramadan Sobhi used to tie the game.

The winning goal in the second leg came when a Pyramids player tried to clear the ball, but it hit a teammate and went back to Ngema. Ngema then slammed the ball past custodian Ahmed el Shenawy from close range.

Soon after halftime, Egypt’s South African Fagrie Lakay had a great chance to tie the game, but he shot wide with only Zimbabwean custodian Washington Arubi to beat.

In the last few minutes, Marumo was under a lot of pressure, but they didn’t give up. In extra time, the post stopped them from scoring a second goal.

The South Africans will now play Young Africans from Tanzania for a spot in the final. The first leg of the match will be on May 13 in Dar es Salaam, and the second leg will be on May 20.

Photo by Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix