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Yanga, Simba qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage
Simba players celebrate after scoring against Zambia's Power Dynamos in the CAF Champions League match at the Azam Complex. The match ended with a 1-1 draw. PHOTO | LOVENESS BERNARD
What you need to know:
- Simba recorded a 1-1 draw against Power Dynamos at the Azam Complex on Sunday, October 1, 2023, to reach the stage on the away goal rule.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s giant, Simba, have joined Young Africans (Yanga) to qualify for the group stages of the African Champions League.
Simba recorded a 1-1 draw against Power Dynamos at the Azam Complex on Sunday, October 1, 2023, to reach the stage on the away goal rule.
In the first-leg match held in Ndola, the two teams recorded a 2-2 draw. Power Dynamos scored in the 16th minute through Andy Boyeli following mistakes made by Simba players who failed to mark him.
Dynamos defender Kondwani Chiboni scored on his own goal in the 74th minute when attempting to clear a dangerous ball.
By qualifying for the group’s stage, each team have guaranteed to pocket U$700,000 (Sh1.9 million).
Meanwhile, Medeama became the first club from Ghana to reach the CAF Champions League group stage since 2012, despite a 2-1 away loss to Horoya of Guinea.
They won the final qualifying round 4-3 on aggregate, having built a 3-1 lead after the first leg two weeks ago.
Medeama were the first to score in the return match in Conakry, as Jonathan Sowah converted a 24th-minute penalty after Salif Coulibaly fouled Joshua Agyemang. Horoya equalised just two minutes later as Ocansey Mandela punished sloppy defending to beat goalkeeper Felix Kyei.
A brilliant save by Kyei from a Mandela header before halftime left Medeama with a two-goal overall advantage at the break.
But it was cut to a single goal with 20 minutes of regular time remaining when substitute Mohamed Keita gave Horoya a 2-1 second-leg lead.
A third Horoya goal would have taken the last-32 tie to a penalty shootout, but the visitors did not concede again in a tense finish and celebrated wildly after the final whistle.
