No-nonsense referees for Yanga, Simba CAF matches

Dar es Salaam. The players of Young Africans SC (Yanga) and Simba SC, both representing the country in the 2023-24 CAF Champions League, will have to be very keen on their last group stage matches following the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to pick no-nonsense referees to officiate their matches.

Yanga will this Friday at 7pm East African time be in action facing the defending champions, Al Ahly, in the Group D clash to be held at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

 The Yanga-Al Ahly match will be officiated at the centre by Benin referee Djindo Houngnandande.

For their part, Simba’s encounter against Jwaneng Galaxy will take place this Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and officiated by Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea.

Both referees have the reputation of not tolerating fouls and acts of misconduct, and when such incidents occur, they do not hesitate to book players. Houngnandande is well known by Yanga’s players as he was in charge of their CAF Confederation Cup match held on February 2, 2023 against US Monastir and Yanga lost 2-0 in Tunis. Houngnandande, aged 36, has officiated 14 matches in African club competitions, flashing a total of 59 cards, two red and 57 yellow.

As for Laryea, he has officiated Simba’s away game against RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup and Simba lost 2-0. Laryea, also aged 36, has officiated 21 matches in African club competitions, flashing 79 cards, three red and 76 yellow.

Yanga, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals, will likely be targeting victory in order to lead Group D while Simba be seeking victory in order to enter the quarter-finals.

Yanga have collected eight points, one behind the group leaders, Al Ahly who are with nine points.

There is an advantage of finishing at the top in the group stage as the team will start away in the knockout stage. Simba are currently positioned second in Group B with six points, tying with Wydad Club Athletics, who will be clashing with Asec Mimosas.

All in all, the results of both Simba and Wydad Club Athletics will determine which team between them will advance to the knock-out stage of the tournament.

Simba will have to focus on their match against Jwaneng Galaxy to avoid a repeat of past disappointments, such as the 2021 CAF Champions League’s qualification round, from which they were eliminated.

In that instance, despite Simba’s 2-0 away victory in the first leg, they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat in the return leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.