The AFCON enforced break will move on with Mamelodi Sundowns having already laid down the plan for the resumption of their campaign both on the domestic front and the CAF Champions League.
While as many as 11 of their players are away in Cote d'Ivoire, Sundowns still have enough personnel back at their base at Chloorkop for training.
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Such is the load still facing the Brazilians that despite having already played 30 games in four competitions (African Football League, DStv Premiership, MTN8, and Carling Knockout Cup), they still have just as many games to play for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.
Sundowns already have the AFL in the bag.
For the prime target that they are chasing, which is the CAF Champions League, Sundowns could play as many as eight games if they reach the final in May.
Then with the only remaining domestic knockout competition (Nedbank Cup), it will be five games to play provided they also reach the match that determines who goes up the podium as the winner.
In the DStv Premiership, Sundowns will have another 16 games to play after the league's DC ruled that they be handed a walkover (three points and three goals), for the match that Moroka Swallows failed to honour in December.
That will mean a total of 29 games from February 14 through to June 1.
With the walkover points taking their tally to 38 from 14 games, a seventh consecutive league title is already just as good as being in the bag.
As it stands, Cape Town City, SuperSport United, and Stellenbosch will each reach 71 points in the unlikely event that they win all their remaining games.
This means, Sundowns will need 24 points from 16 games to reach an unassailable 72 points.
This translates to eight wins from the 16 games left to play for Rulani Mokwena's men.
Proceeding to the Champions League quarterfinals still needs a bit of work with a trip to Mauritania champions FC Nouadhibou and a home tie against TP Mazembe still to come.
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Sundowns will be the in Nedbank Cup last 32 draw on Thursday evening.
Had the game against Swallows been played and they go on to reach both the finals of the Nedbank Cup and Champions League it would have been 60 games for the season.
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