With Raja Athletic Club set to face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, 4 January, it is now reported that the Moroccan club are concerned about the state of their pitch ahead of the game.
Round four of the CAF Champions League group stage takes place this coming weekend, with Raja looking to avoid a second successive defeat to Sundowns.
Read: North African giants punished for misconduct against SA sides
The South African side claimed a narrow 1-0 win over the Moroccans at Loftus Versfeld on 15 December, with Bafana Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners scoring the winner.
With less than a week to go before the two teams lock horns again, Raja are now said to be facing a new concern.
According to Al9anat.com, the Casablanca outfit are surprised by the pitch condition of the Al-Arabi Al-Zawali Stadium.
It is said that the club were shocked by the damaged state of the grass after the venue hosted a match between Wydad Athletic Club and Maghreb de Fes on Saturday, 28 December.
The report claims that Raja feel they may no longer have a slight advantage over Sundowns as a result of their familiarity with the pitch conditions.
Moreover, it is suggested that the deterioration of the grass at Al-Arabi Al-Zawali Stadium is due to the failure to plant autumn seeds in the stadium.
It is also said that the ground will only undergo repairs in February 2025 after the Champions League group stage concludes.
Read: Bafana striker set to join Rulani at Wydad?
By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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