Simba players ready to face Al Ahly Tripoli in CAF Confederation Cup match
What you need to know:
- Simba's players are in high spirits ahead of the clash and have promised to give their best performance.
Dar es Salaam. Football giants Simba will play their first match of the CAF Confederation Cup tomorrow, September 15, 2024, against Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya at 8:30 PM East African time.
The match, taking place at the June 11 Stadium in Tripoli, is expected to be a thrilling encounter following the preparations of both teams.
Simba's players are in high spirits ahead of the clash and have promised to give their best performance.
The players have been training in Tripoli for three days and have somewhat acclimatised to the local weather conditions. The arrival of players who were with their national teams has also boosted the team’s morale as they prepare to face Al Ahly Tripoli.
Ahmed Ally, Simba's Information Officer, stated that the players are performing well and are fully prepared for the match.
He noted that the only challenge they faced was the extreme heat in Tripoli but reassured fans, stating that Simba have previously played CAF matches in hot North African countries and managed to cope well, expecting the same outcome for this match.
The Msimbazi Street giants will be facing Al Ahly Tripoli for the first time.
For his part, the team head coach, Fadlu Davids, said they are determined to secure a positive result that will make their work easier for next week’s return leg in Dar es Salaam.
Fadlu added that the early arrival of goalkeepers Ally Salim and Moussa Camara, alongside Edwin Balua, Steven Mukwala, and Mohamed “Tshabalala” Hussein, who were with the national teams of Tanzania, Guinea, and Uganda, has strengthened the squad.
The players reunited with their teammates who travelled from Dar es Salaam, and they have already begun official training for the match.
Simba are aiming to qualify for the group stage of the competition once again, following their last appearance in the 2021-2022 season, where they reached the quarterfinals after being eliminated from the CAF Champions League.
Good news for Simba is that Al Ahly’s first-choice goalkeeper, Mohammad Nashnoush, a veteran of international competitions, is injured and will miss both legs.
He will be replaced by Suleiman Al Tihar. Nashnoush, 36, will not feature, while Simba have no injury concerns, with Joshua Mutale and Jean Ahoua both back to bolster the squad.
Records show that Simba have a strong track record of winning knockout matches away from home, although they have sometimes struggled in the group stage or quarterfinals.
A good result in this away match could boost Coach Fadlu’s confidence, as he has stated that the team will focus on all-out attack with smart defending to secure a positive result before the return leg next week.
“It won’t be an easy match, but we are well-prepared to ensure we get the win away. Al Ahly Tripoli is not a team to be underestimated, which is why we are planning to face them with great caution, but also to achieve a result that will support us in the return leg,” said Fadlu.
Simba’s defenders will have the task of containing Agostinho Crustovao Paciencia, also known as Mabululu, a major threat in the attacking area and one of Angola’s national team players.
However, Simba are confident in their defensive lineup, which includes goalkeepers Camara, Aishi Manula, and Salim, as well as defenders Che Fondoh Malone, Chamou Karaboue, and Abdulrazak Hamza.
Simba also boasts a strong midfield featuring Debora Fernandes Mavambo, Augustine Okejepha, Fabrice Ngoma, and Mzamiru Yasin, while their forward line is packed with top talent.
In their last five CAF away matches, Simba have lost twice—against Morocco’s Wydad AC and Egypt’s Al Ahly—while drawing the other three.
These include a 1-1 draw with Al Ahly in the African Football League and 0-0 draws with Ivory Coast’s Asec Mimosas and Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, all in the group stage of last season’s CAF Champions League.
Simba will play the return leg against Al Ahly Tripoli, who have an unbeaten record of nearly 24 home matches in both domestic and international competitions, next Sunday at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The overall winner will advance to the group stage, aiming for the title currently held by Egypt’s Zamalek.
