Merikh Bentiu reject earlier kick-off for Pyramids CAF Champions League tie

Officials at South Sudanese champions Merikh Bentiu have rejected a decision to bring forward their CAF Champions League match against Pyramids.

The two sides are due to meet in the first leg of the competition’s round of 32, with the fixture taking place in Juba.

The match observer had moved the start time from 16:30 to 16:15 because of expected rain and the earlier onset of darkness. However, Merikh Bentiu refused to accept the change.

Juba International Stadium does not have floodlights, which was the reason for the proposed 15-minute adjustment. The venue has a capacity of 12,000 spectators.

Merikh Bentiu had previously announced that its supporters would be admitted free of charge for the match against Pyramids.

Pyramids will be without Mahmoud Gad and Hamed Hamdan, while Oday Fakhouri has returned to the squad after missing the team’s match against Ceramica Cleopatra.

The full Pyramids squad is:

Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shenawy, Hazem Gamal, Ziad Haitham.

Defenders: Mahmoud Marei, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed Chibi, Khaled Awad, Karim Hafez, Eyad El Askalany.

Midfielders: Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Abdel Kader, Mostafa Fathi, Ahmed Tawfik, Mohand Lasheen, Mahmoud Abdel Hafiz “Zlaka”, Walid El Karti, Abdel Rahman Magdy, Nasser Maher, Ahmed Atef “Kota”, Mostafa Abdel Raouf “Zico”, Ahmed Fawzi, Oday Fakhouri.

Forwards: دودو الجباس, Youssef Ibrahim “Obama”, Ahmed Nazir Benbouali.