SIMBA SC SET TO PREPARE INTENSIVELY IN ZANZIBAR FOR CRUCIAL CLASH AGAINST AL AHLY IN CAF CL QUARTER-FINALS

 



IN A MOVE to intensify their preparations for the upcoming CAF Champions League quarter-final clash against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Simba Sports Club departed Dar es Salaam for Zanzibar on Tuesday, March 18th, 2024.

The team, led by Head Coach Abdelhak Benchikha, will be setting up camp on the archipelago for a focused training session. Benchikha believes that the serene environment of Zanzibar will provide the necessary stability and focus for his players to hone their skills and develop a winning strategy.

Simba’s ambition for the prestigious tournament is evident. Simba’s Information and Communication Manager, Ahmed Ally, expressed the club’s unwavering determination to reach the coveted semi-final stage. Ally emphasized the team’s impressive track record in African football, highlighting their belief that eliminating Al Ahly from the competition is a very real possibility.

Ahmed Ally outlined their  team’s plans following the NBC Premier League match against Mashujaa Fc “Immediately after our game, our players received a three-day break, with some joining their national teams for upcoming fixtures. Now, with about nine days left until our next match, we’ve commenced a specialized training program at our facility. Our main objective in this tournament is to secure a spot in the semi-finals.”

“In order to achieve this goal, thorough preparations are essential. That’s why we’ve decided to head to  Zanzibar. There, we’ll have the ideal environment to train and prepare for the upcoming game against Al Ahly. While in Zanzibar, we also hope to arrange a friendly match to further fine-tune our tactics and readiness for the crucial fixture.”

The first leg of the quarter-final match will be held on Friday, March 29th, 2024, at Benjamini Mkapa Stadium, Dar Es Salaam. Simba fans are eagerly anticipating the encounter, and with their team’s dedication and the Zanzibar training camp, they hope to see Simba secure a strong advantage going into the second leg.

This will be the first time for the duo to interface in the knockout phase of the CAF Champions League and hence it is expected to be a thrilling game.

Al Ahly has faced repeated disappointment at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium against Simba sports Club across all competitions, failing to secure a victory in any encounter.

The trend began on February 12th, 2019, when Simba hosted Al Ahly in a Champions League Group D match. Despite a hard-fought battle, Al Ahly succumbed to a 1-0 defeat, courtesy of Meddie Kagere’s decisive goal in the 65th minute.

Throughout the match, Simba displayed superior offensive prowess, registering five shots on target compared to Al Ahly’s solitary attempt on goal.

The narrative repeated itself on February 23rd, 2021, as Simba Sc  once again welcomed Al Ahly to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for another high-stakes CAF Champions League encounter. In a mirror image of their previous clash, Al Ahly fell short, suffering a 1-0 loss with Luis Miquissone sealing the victory for Simba with a goal in the 31st minute. Despite Al Ahly’s efforts, Simba maintained control, recording four shots on target while limiting their opponents to just one.

The sequence continued into their third appearance in the city on October 20th of the preceding year. In the inaugural match of the Africa Football League (AFL), Simba and Al Ahly battled to a 2-2 draw, with goals from Kibu Denis and Sadio Kanoute contributing to the deadlock, further solidifying Simba’s dominance over Al Ahly at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

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