CAF accepts Al-Ahly's request

CAIRO – 25 March 2019: CAF announced on Monday the dates of CAF Champions League quarter finals' clashes and Al-Ahly's game against Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa will be played on April 6.

The CAF Champions League quarter finals' first leg was initially supposed to be played on April 5 but Al-Ahly bid a request to play the game a day later.

"We have a big game at the domestic league and we will have a long flight to South Africa. The players need to rest especially that we will arrive on April 4," Al-Ahly Football Director, Sayed Abdel Hafiz, told the club's official website.

Al-Ahly will face their arch rivals, Zamalek, on March 30 at the League. Al-Ahly comes second at the League with two points behind the leaders, Zamalek.

Al-Ahly reached the quarter finals after the team topped group D with 10 points from three victories at home over Tanzania’s Simba, Algerian club, JS Saoura and AS Vita Vlub from Congo and they lost two games in Congo and Tanzania. Their game against JS Saoura in Algeria ended with a draw.
On the other hand, Sundowns reached the quarter finals as the runners-up of group A after they gained 10 points, the same as the leaders, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, but the head-to-head away goals rule granted the Moroccan team the leadership.
The winner will face the winner between Horoya of Guinea and Wydad Casablanca.
Al-Ahly failed to achieve their ninth title at the competition as they lost the last two Champions League Finals to Wydad Casablanca and Esperence, respectively.