New kick-off time for Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Ahly clash

The second leg of the CAF Champions League Group A match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly has a new kick-off time.

As The South African exclusively reported on Thursday, the two African giants will battle for three points at the FNB Stadium on 11 March.

However, the initial information gathered by this website was that the match was scheduled to start at 21:00 on the day.

Now, there is an update with both Sundowns and Al Ahly having settled for a 15:00 (SA time) kick-off time at the same venue.

WHY SUNDOWNS MOVED THE AL AHLY CLASH FROM 21:00 TO 15:00

According to a source close to the Chloorkop-based side, Sundowns have opted for the afternoon kick-off because the technical team believes that could work to their advantage.

“Al Ahly often play their games at night, and if we were to play them at night here [in South Africa] then it would have been to their advantage hence the change in kick-off time,” the source told The South African.

In April 2019, Sundowns used this similar approach against Al Ahly in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League with Pitso Mosimane as their coach.

And the trick worked as Sundowns hammered Al Ahly 5-0 before being stopped in the semi-finals by Wydad Casablanca.