Egyptian referee to officiate Stellenbosch-Simba match
What you need to know:
- Simba head into the match with a significant advantage, having secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg held at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s CAF Confederation Cup representatives, Simba SC, are set to depart for South Africa tomorrow ahead of their semifinal return leg clash against Stellenbosch FC.
The match, scheduled for Sunday April 27, 2025, will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with kick-off at 4pm.
Simba will fly aboard an Air Tanzania aircraft, departing at 10am, according to the club’s Information Manager, Ahmed Ally.
He confirmed that the full squad will be traveling for the crucial encounter, as the team seeks to secure a place in the final of the continental tournament.
“All players will be part of the traveling squad. This is important to maintain unity and team spirit,” said Ally in an interview with The Citizen.
Simba head into the match with a significant advantage, having secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg held at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar. A draw will be enough for the Msimbazi Street giants to book a spot in the final.
Ally also shared that while the club initially planned to send a group of fans to support the team in South Africa, logistical challenges have made it difficult.
Instead, he called upon Tanzanians residing in South Africa and neighboring countries to come out in large numbers and support Simba in the stadium.
“This is a crucial match for us. We call upon all Tanzanians living in South Africa and nearby countries to attend the match and give us their support.
Our aim is not just to win the match, but to go all the way and win the title,” Ally emphasized. In related news, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Egyptian international referee Amin Mohamed Omar to officiate the high-stakes semifinal match.
This will be Omar’s second time overseeing a Simba match, having previously officiated their CAF Champions’ League group stage game against Guinea’s Horoya AC on November 2, 2023.
That match, held at Yorokoguia Stadium in Guinea, ended in a 1-0 defeat for Simba. Referee Omar is known for his strict approach to discipline on the field.
According to available data, he has officiated 17 matches across various competitions this season, issuing a total of 66 yellow cards.
