Govt urges Yanga, Simba to play with determination in CAF Cup duels
What you need to know:
- Both teams must secure positive results to bolster their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of their respective competitions.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's envoys in the CAF continental club championships, Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba, have departed for crucial assignments, with the government urging them to approach their away matches with determination.
Yanga, competing in the CAF Champions League, left for Mauritania ahead of their Sunday match against Al Hilal Omdurman.
The encounter is programmed to kick off at 10pm East African time at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium.
For their part, Simba, who feature in the CAF Confederation Cup, travelled to Angola for their clash against Bravos do Maquis.
The Simba-Bravos tie is also scheduled for Sunday at 7pm East African time at the Estadio Nacional Da Tundavala in Lubango, Angola.
Both teams must secure positive results to bolster their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of their respective competitions.
Speaking to The Citizen, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, who also serves as the Government Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, called on the players to ensure they achieve positive results to remain in contention for knockout stage qualification.
Msigwa emphasised that Yanga need victories in their remaining two matches to secure a place in the next round.
“The remaining two matches for Yanga are crucial and must-win encounters. I am confident they will succeed, allowing us to continue awarding them the ‘Goli la Mama’ money—Sh5 million for every goal scored in a winning or drawing result. "I trust Yanga’s players, technical bench, and leadership as they have taken all necessary measures to secure victory,” said Msigwa.
The Jangwani Street giants are currently third in Group A with four points, trailing behind MC Alger, who have five points. Al Hilal Omdurman have already secured their spot in the knockout stage. Yanga’s final group-stage tie is against MC Alger on January 18 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, starting at 4pm.
Regarding Simba, Msigwa noted the team also requires positive results to advance to the knockout stage. The Msimbazi Street-based team is tied on nine points with group leaders CS Constantine of Algeria but trails on goal difference.
Simba have scored five goals and conceded two, giving them a +2 goal difference, while CS Constantine lead with a +5 goal difference, having scored nine goals and conceded four. Bravos do Maquis, currently third with six points, must win their remaining matches, including a 2-0 victory over Simba, to stay in contention.
However, if Simba secures even a draw against Bravos, they will automatically qualify for the knockout stage based on the head-to-head rule, having won the first leg 2-1 at home.
In that scenario, Simba will reach 10 points, and even a loss to CS Constantine in their final group match will not eliminate them. A Bravos win over CS Sfaxien in their last game will also only tie them on 10 points, leaving Simba ahead due to the head-to-head tie-breaker.
