Mamelodi Sundowns will host the first leg of their African Champions League quarterfinal against Stade Malien in Pretoria next Friday, March 13, the Confederation of African Football’s fixtures have revealed.
The match at Loftus Versfeld will kick off at 8pm and will be the first of the four quarterfinal first-leg ties next week.
The return leg for Sundowns will be played in Bamako on Sunday, March 22, at the Stade 26 Mars, where the final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations was hosted.
Stade Malien emerged as the surprise package of the Champions League group phase this season, topping their standings and easily advancing to the last eight.
Stade Malien had qualified to compete in the Champions League 20 times from 2001 but after 19 failed efforts to get past the preliminary knockout rounds, and into the group stage, finally succeeded this season.
But they did not rest on their laurels, going on to top Group D with an impressive 11-point haul and making sure of their progress in their penultimate game by beating perennial favourites Esperance 1-0 in Bamako.
Sundowns will have to postpone two Betway Premiership clashes against Orbit College, set for Rustenburg on March 14, and home to Marumo Gallants on March 21.
The other quarterfinal first-leg ties will be played on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, 15 March.
On March 14, Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces host holders Pyramids of Egypt, while on March 15, Morocco’s other representative, Renaissance Berkane, are up against Al Hilal, and Esperance of Tunisia take on Al Ahly from Egypt.
Sundowns are the last South African team left in African club competition this season.