Yanga, Simba ready to face rivals as CAF picks referees
Young Africans (Yanga) players during the past training session. The team will be in action on Sunday hosting Rivers United of Nigeria in the qurterfinal second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The encounter will kickoff at 7pm. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Simba will be in action tomorrow from 9pm Tanzanian time at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco. Already Simba players have arrived in Casablanca ahead of their encounter
- Yanga will be in action on Sunday hosting Rivers United of Nigeria in the qurterfinal second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The encounter will kickoff at 7pm.
Dar es Salaam. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Chadian referee Alhadi Allaou Mahamat to officiate the quarterfinal second leg of the CAF Champions League between Tanzania’s Simba SC and Wydad Club Athletic of Morocco.
Simba will be in action tomorrow from 9pm Tanzanian time at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco. Already Simba players have arrived in Casablanca ahead of their encounter.
According to the CAF’s statement, Mahamat will be assisted by Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue from Cameroon and Issa Yaya, also from Chad while the fourth official will be Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail from Sudan.
Simba won 1-0 in the first leg held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and need any draw to qualify for the semifinals of the competition.
However, Simba will miss the services of their three players, Aishi Manula, the first choice goalkeeper who is now nursing his injury, Augustine Okrah and Mohamed Ouattara. The team’s head coach, Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo alias Robertinho, said they are going to prove their worth in the encounter despite facing a tough assignment.
He said his players are in good form and are ready to deliver their best in the match.
Meanwhile, the Yanga-Rivers United quarterfinal return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup will be officiated by Moroccan referees.
According to the CAF statement, Redouane Jiyed will be at the centre of the pitch in the tough billed encounter in which Yanga need any draw to make their history of advancing to the semifinals of the competition.
Yanga won 2-0 in away to put one foot in the semifinal stage of the competition. Jiyed will be assisted by Lahcen Azgaou and Mostafa Akarkad while reserve referee is Jalal Jayed, also from Morocco.
Yanga’s players started training yesterday ahead of the encounter scheduled to kickoff at 7pm on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Despite a 2-0 away victory, Yanga head coach Nasreddine Nabi said they are taking the encounter seriously and target victory in order to reach the semifinal of the prestigious tournament.
