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Simba turn up the heat on Wydad in CAF match today
Simba players train at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday ahead of their quarterfinal first leg of the CAF Champions League against Wydad Club Athletic at the same venue today. PHOTO | LOVENESS BERNARD
What you need to know:
- The match has been scheduled to start at 4pm and will be officiated by Senegalese referee Issa Sy, who will be at the center, while the assistant’s referees are Nouha Bangoura also from Senegal and Adou Hermann Desiré Ngoh, from Ivory Coast. The fourth official is Maguette Ndiaye, also from Senegal
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s envoys in the CAF Champions League, Simba Sports Club today face the challenging task of Wydad Club Athletic in the first match of the African Champions League quarterfinal match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The match has been scheduled to start at 4pm and will be officiated by Senegalese referee Issa Sy, who will be at the center, while the assistant’s referees are Nouha Bangoura also from Senegal and Adou Hermann Desiré Ngoh, from Ivory Coast. The fourth official is Maguette Ndiaye, also from Senegal.
Also, in today’s fixture, JS Kabylie of Algeria will meet Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia, scheduled to be held at Stade 1 November 1954 (Tizi Ouzou) while Al Ahly of Egypt will host Raja Athletic Club of Morocco at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo and Chabab Belouizdad CR Belouizdad (CR Belouizdad) of Algeria will meet Mamelodi Sundowns.
Simba head coach Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo alias Robertinho, has said all his players are in high spirits and targeting victory.
The Brazilian trainer said the match is not going to be easy because their opponents will also be searching for victory in order to qualify for the next stage.
"We are playing against a tough team and need to be very careful all the time. Wydad are the defending champions, and their prime target is to win the trophy for the second time in a row.
"It is very important for us to win in order to qualify for the semifinal stage. Even our opponent have the same mission and vision of registering victory in order to enter the next stage," said Robertinho.
Robertihno said that they are expecting to get tough opposition from Wydad, but their preparations will make them do their best.
"It is going to be a challenging task as Wydad are a strong side, who also target victory to advance into the semifinals.
The winners of the match will meet the winners between Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Another match in the CAF Champions League are Al Ahly and Raja Club Athletic and JS Kabylie and Esperance de Tunis.
The winners between Kabylie and Esperance will face the winners between Al Ahly and Raja Club Athletic. The first legs will be held between May 12 and 13, while the return legs will be held between May 19 and 20.
Apart from seeking revenge for a 3-0 loss to Wydad Club Athletic on May 28, 2011, the Tanzanian giants will likely be out to write another record in the competition by eliminating the defending champions.
Simba played against Wydad in the special CAF Champions League playoff following the elimination of Javier Besala Bukungu, who featured in the TP Mazembe encounter against Simba contrary to the CAF rules and regulations.
Bukungu joined TP Mazembe from Esperance, Tunisia, but his registration was premature, and Simba, who were eliminated by TP Mazembe by 3-1, were awarded victory and required to face Wydad at a neutral venue. The match was played in Cairo, and Simba exited.
In 2003, Simba managed to eliminate Zamalek of Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium.
Simba won 1-0 at the Uhuru Stadium, and later Zamalek won 1-0 on June 1 in 2003 on penalties, Simba won 3-2, thanks to Juma Kaseja’s commendable save in the encounter.
Wydad are the defending champions of the competition and are now seeking the fourth title. The Moroccan giants won the title in 1992, 2017, and the 2021–2022 edition.
The team played in the competition’s finals in 2011 and 2018/2019 while qualifying for the semifinals in 2016, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021. In 2018, Waydad won the CAF Super Cup title.
