Simba SC, Al Hilal, Al Merriekh all in action

_{Three teams from the CECAFA Zone will all be in action later tonight in the group stage of the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Champions league.}

_{Tanzania’s Simba SC will be looking for a good start when they face Horoya AC in Conakry in a Group C clash.}

_{Simba’s new coach Coach Roberto Oliveira has made it clear that although they respect the hosts, his players are determined and ready to go all out for a win. “It is always good to start the group stage with a win and that is what we shall be aiming for,” added Oliveira.}

_{It will be the first time the Brazilian coach is in-charge of the Reds in the CAF TotalEnergies Champions League, having joined from Uganda’s Vipers SC who he guided to qualification for the group stage for the first time.}

_{Sudan Premier League reigning champions Al Hilal will also face a tough task away to on-form Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium I South Africa.}

_{But after camping in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for over two weeks where they played friendly matches against Namungo FC, Azam FC and Simba SC, Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge says his team is well tuned for this battle.}

_{“We know Sundowns is an experienced team that has won the Champions League before, but we are here for a serious mission,” added the experienced Ibenge.}

_{Another team from Sudan Al Merriekh who have got all the experience playing at this level will play a Group D match away to Esperance de Tunis in Tunisia.}

_{The three teams from CECAFA Zone will hope to make a good start of their campaign, after Uganda’s Vipers SC failed to get a good result away from home on Friday night in Morocco.}

_{Vipers SC suffered a 5-0 defeat to Raja Casablanca in Morocco in a Group C tie that was played behind closed doors since CAF banned the hosts from having fans in the Stadium because of unsporting behavior.}

_{Hamza Khabba, Jamal Harkass and Mohamed Zrida gave the home side a 3-0 half time lead. Yousri Bouzok and Roger Aholou added two second half goals to ensure the Moroccan side picked a big win.}