Yanga, Simba shift focus to crucial CAF Cup encounters

Dar es Salaam. After tough fixtures in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League, traditional giants Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba have started preparations ahead of the crucial Caf Champions League matches to be played next Saturday.

As Yanga, who are in Group D, host CR Belouizdad of Algeria at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Simba will be away in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, facing Asec Mimosas in a Group D match at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

The matches are very crucial for the two teams in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

Yanga are third in Group D after collecting five points from four matches.

The victory against CR Belouizdad will make them collect eight points, and they will need only one point to qualify for the knockout stage.

After hosting CR Belouizdad, Yanga will travel to Egypt to face Al Ahly, who is at the top of the group with six points.

The match will be held on March 2 at the Cairo International Stadium.

Arithmetically, Yanga face a must-win encounter against CR Belouizdad and need to get positive results against Al Ahly in their last match.

Medeama, who will host Al Ahly, also have a chance to qualify for the knockout stage if they win against the defending champions in Accra, Ghana.

Simba, on the other hand, need a victory or draw against an already qualified team, Asec Mimosas.

Simba will then host Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana on March 2 at 7 pm at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the last match.

Simba are second with five points, while Asec Mimosas are at the top with 10 points.

The group’s log shows that Jwaneng are third with four points, and Wydad Athletic Club are at the bottom with three points.

The three teams, namely Simba, Jwaneng, and Wydad, have a chance to join Asec Mimosas to qualify for the knockout stage.