Al Hilal SC have received a major boost ahead of their CAF Champions League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns after Jean Claude Girumugisha’s suspension was reduced on appeal. The CAF Appeal Committee upheld Al Hilal’s request to cut Girumugisha’s three-match ban to just one, clearing the Burundian international to feature in Friday’s Group C encounter scheduled for January 23. Girumugisha had been suspended following an altercation during Al Hilal’s 2-1 victory over MC Alger at Amahoro Stadium on November 21 last year. The original sanction ruled him out of matches against St Eloi Lupopo and the two-legged tie with Mamelodi Sundowns. However, having already served the suspension in Al Hilal’s away match against St Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi, Girumugisha is now eligible to play in both fixtures against the South African champions. Al Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns are tied at the top of Group C with four points each, though Sundowns sit first on goal difference. Both teams are unbeaten after two matches, setting up a tightly contested showdown. Sundowns come into the match with strong momentum, having not lost in their last eight games across competitions, including a recent league victory over Orbit College. Al Hilal, meanwhile, are also enjoying an impressive run, winning eight straight matches and keeping clean sheets in six of those games. Despite the form, they come into the game with a record of struggling against Sundowns, failing to beat them in their last five meetings.
