Tanzania Premier League: Simba leapfrog Singida after win against Mashujaa
What you need to know:
- Simba Mukwala’s crucial strike in the 90+7 minute propelled Simba to second place in the league standings, edging out Singida Black Stars on goal difference
Dar es Salaam. A last-minute goal by Steven Mukwala on November 1, 2024, lifted Simba SC to a 1-0 victory over Mashujaa FC in a tense Mainland Premier League match at Lake Tanganyika Stadium in Kigoma.
Mukwala’s crucial strike in the 90+7 minute propelled Simba to second place in the league standings, edging out Singida Black Stars on goal difference.
Mukwala, who came on as a substitute for Fabrice Ngoma, converted a well-placed corner kick from Awesu Awesu, igniting celebrations among Simba fans who had resigned themselves to a goalless draw.
The win brings Simba to 22 points from nine matches, with a goal difference of +14, narrowly surpassing Singida Black Stars, who also have 22 points but a goal difference of +9.
Yanga leads the standings with 24 points from eight matches, having yet to concede a goal.
Simba had several chances throughout the match but struggled to capitalise.
Fabrice Ngoma, Lionel Ateba, and Kibu Dennis each missed clear scoring opportunities, heightening the pressure as the clock ticked down.
The match, officiated by referee Omari Mdoe from Tanga, was tightly contested from start to finish, with Mashujaa FC effectively containing Simba’s offence until the dying moments.
Mashujaa FC, though under constant pressure, maintained a strong defensive line and frustrated Simba's attempts to score early on.
Simba’s head coach, Fadlu Davids, praised his players for their resilience in a difficult game where Mashujaa opted to play defensively.
"It was a very tough match," Davids said. "Mashujaa defended well, but we kept pushing and managed to score in the final minutes. I’m proud of the players’ fighting spirit and determination to get the win."
Mashujaa’s head coach, Abdallah Bares, acknowledged the costly late-game mistake that allowed Simba to secure the win.
"We played well for most of the match but let our guard down in the closing moments," he said.
"We’ll work to correct these mistakes in our upcoming games."
