Simba in tight spot after draw with Asec Mimosas

Dar es Salaam. Simba find themselves in a tight spot to qualify for the knockout stage of the African Champions League after a goalless draw against Asec Mimosas at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on February 23, 2024.

The result means Simba must face a must-win encounter against Jwaneng Galaxy on March 2, 2024, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

So far, Simba are second with six points from five matches, while Jwaneng Galaxy, who today, February 24, 2024, host Wydad Club Athletic of Morocco, are in third place with four points.

Asec Mimosas have already qualified for the knockout stage after topping Group B with 11 points that cannot be reached by any of the remaining three teams.

Arithmetically, the second team to join Asec Mimosas in the playoffs from Group B is still open, and only victory against Jwaneng Galaxy will make the Msimbazi Street giants qualify for the next stage.

Simba’s victory against Jwaneng Galaxy will earn them nine points and dissolve the dream of Botswana’s side reaching the stage, even if they win against Wydad Club Athletic. Statistically, Jwaneng Galaxy will remain with seven points (if they win against Wydad), while Simba will have a two-point advantage.

But if Jwaneng Galaxy lose against Wydad Club Athletic and the Moroccan giants win against Asec Mimosas in their final match on March 2, 2024, in Casablanca, Simba will again qualify for the knockout stage by virtue of head-to-head results.

Simba lost 1-0 against Wydad Club Athletic at the Stade de Marrakech in Marrakech on December 9, 2023, and later won 2-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on December 19, 2023.

However, Simba need to be very focused on their match against Jwaneng Galaxy to avoid disappointing results like what happened in the 2021 CAF Champions’ qualification round, whereby the Msimbazi Street giants were eliminated.

Simba won 2-0 in the match played on October 17, 2021, at the Gaborone National Stadium, before the Botswana giants recorded a 3-1 victory at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on October 24, 2021.

Simba’s defensive midfielder, Mzamiru Yassin, promised the team’s fans and members that they would not repeat the same mistakes that happened in 2021 in the encounter.

“We remember the results, but we are different now. I call on Simba fans to continue giving us support ahead of the match. Our result against Asec Mimosas has disappointed us a little as we were targeting victory, but getting one point is not bad,” said Mzamiru.

Simba kicked off the match with a clear intent of winning, but they did not seem to give Asec Mimosas a hard time for the first 30 minutes of the game.

Saido Ntibazonkiza had half chances, but Asec Mimosas goalkeeper Charles Folly saved his shot in the first half. Malian Sadio Kanoute squandered the best chance in the opening minute of the second half when he fired wide after ASEC goalkeeper Folly was again caught out of position