The new leadership of CAF, led by Ahmad, is still on with their agenda of transforming Africa football by announcing a new schedule for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ will kick off two of their Champions League matches in Pretoria at 9pm following the announcement of dates and kick-off times of the fixtures.
CAF have introduced a new standardised fixture procedure that separates match days in the Champions League and African Confederation Cup‚ and also provides for set kick-off times to help TV coverage.
This will be the first time such changes are being introduced into the African game and it is aimed at increasing revenue from broadcast rights.
Weekend Champions League games can now only be played on a Friday or Saturday‚ and on Tuesday if there is a round of midweek matches.
Confederation Cup games can only be staged on a Sunday or a Wednesday‚ meaning the competitions will never overlap.
Fans will be handed a huge opportunity to enjoy night football with the standardised kick-off times.
For Friday Champions League games‚ matches will start at 6pm or 9pm South African time‚ while on Saturdays and Tuesdays kick-off is at 3pm‚ 6pm or 9pm.
The same goes for Confederation Cup matches on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Sundowns will welcome defending Champions Wydad Casablanca in the opener as they kick-off their Champions League Group C campaign at home on May 5th which will kick-off at 9pm.
The Brazilians will then travel to Guinea to meet Horoya on May 15 (6pm).
Their third fixture is away to AS Togo Port de Lomé on July 17 (6pm)‚ before a home return match on July 27 (9pm).
Wydad Casablanca host Sundowns on August 17 at 8pm and the other games follow.
"There will be a few exceptions [to kick-off times] in some special cases. However‚ we are hopeful it will mark a giant leap for our club competitions‚" said CAF General Secretary Amr Fahmy.
"We strongly believe in having a unique identity for the club competitions and also creating a rendezvous for the fans. It will also increase the number of matches broadcast by the TV rights holders."
By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter