Mamelodi Sundown’s opening match in the group phase of the African Champions League has been put back two days because of unavailability of their stadium.
The game against newcomers FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania was due to be the opening game of this season’s group phase and be hosted at Loftus Versfeld early Friday evening. But it will know be played at 3pm (SA time) on Sunday.
Loftus is being used on Saturday by the Bulls who play in the United Rugby Championship against Irish club Connacht.
Sundowns will be stepping into the unknown when they take on the Mauritanian club, who have never previously got this far in continental competition and are the first club from their country to compete in the group phase of the continent’s top club competition.
A first contingent of their players have already arrived in Pretoria but other squad members will only travel after Mauritania’s World Cup qualifier against South Sudan in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday. That also includes coach Amir Abou, who doubles up his work at Nouadhibou with the job of Mauritania national coach.
The club upset Mali’s Real Bamako to book their berth in the group phase, winning the first leg 3-0 away before a 4-1 aggregate triumph. In the first round, they eliminated Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya 2-1 on aggregate.
Sundowns will be competing in the group phase for a ninth successive season and also take on Pyramids of Egypt and the Congolese giants TP Mazembe in Group A.
After Sunday’s game, Sundowns will be away at Mazembe on Saturday December 2 and eight days later will host Pyramids in Pretoria.