Yanga, Simba in crucial CAF Champions League matches

Dar es Salaam. Giants, Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba, today face a daunting task in the ongoing CAF Champions League Group stage.

As Yanga host the defending champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam from 7pm, Simba will be away facing Jwaneng Galaxy at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, from 4pm Tanzanian time.

The two matches are very crucial for the Tanzanian sides and victory will put them in a good position to advance to the knockout stage.

Yanga's quest for redemption follows a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Algerian side CR Belouizdad in their away match. To keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage alive, Yanga must overcome the formidable Al Ahly.

Yanga head coach Miguel Gamondi,said the team's focus is on using the home ground well despite facing the tough challenge. Gamondi said that all his players are in good shape and ready to do their best in the encounter.

“We have trained well and my players take the match seriously. We need to play with all precautions as we are facing one of the African giants. I trust my players as they are committed and the mistakes that cost the team in the first leg have been rectified,” said Gamondi.

For his part, Yanga captain Bakari Mwamnyeto called for support from Yanga’s fans in the crucial encounter, promising victory and entertaining football against the African giants.

 “We know what our fans and members need from us. We did not make them happy in the first match in Algeria, but now we want to make them happy despite the challenge we are facing,” said Mwamnyeto.

As the Tanzanian giants step onto the continental stage, expectations are high, and fans eagerly anticipate an exhilarating journey filled with memorable moments.

Al Ahly who are under Swiss tactician Marcel Koller buoyed by a convincing 3-0 victory against Medeama FC of Ghana in their previous match, enter the encounter with confidence and a desire to maintain their winning streak.

The clash between Yanga and Al Ahly is billed to be a battle of skills, strategies, and determination as both teams will be vying for supremacy in group D.

The contrasting fortunes of Yanga and Al Ahly in their respective opening matches add an exciting element to their upcoming encounter.

Yanga, driven by the desire to bounce back from their defeat, will need to muster all their strength to overcome the Egyptian side.

Meanwhile, Simba new head coach Abdelhak Benchikha is facing his first task. The match is very important to Simba who recorded a 1-1 draw against Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast in their opening match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Benchikha targets to take the team to the next level of development by recording the best result away.

Jwaneng Galaxy, on the other hand, enter the fray with a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory against Wydad Club Athletic in their opening match at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

With the desire to maintain their winning momentum, Jwaneng Galaxy are poised to give Simba a tough challenge in Group B.

The significance of the encounter between Simba and Jwaneng Galaxy is magnified by the fact that both teams are vying for supremacy in group B as every point counts.

Asec Mimosas and Wydad Club Athletic, the other contenders in group B, will also lock horns at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, adding an extra layer of complexity to the group dynamics.

In another development, in the closing fixtures of Match Day 2, Tunisian side, ES Sahel will be away facing Angola’s Petro de Luanda in the late evening kick off.

The encounter will be played concurrently with the match between Ivorian giants’ Asec Mimosas as hosts and a wounded Wydad who are still licking their wounds from last weekend’s disappointing result at home against Jwaneng Galaxy.