Simba, Al Hilal draw in build-up encounter

_{The visiting Al Hilal have forced Simba SC to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.}

_{Lilibo Maccabi gave the Sudanese side the lead after 45 minutes, but Simba SC fought back to level matters after 81 minutes through Habibu Kyombo.}

_{The two teams used the friendly match ahead of the start of the group stage of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League. Florent Ibenge, the Al Hilal head coach said the build-up was a good test for his team before they travl to face Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.}

_{“We are happy that we have managed to camp and play three build-up matches in Tanzania and this has helped us prepare better,” added Ibenge. Al Hilal played to a 1-1 draw against Namungo FC, and beat Azam FC 1-0 in the other friendly matches they played in Tanzania.}

_{Simba’s new Brazilian coach Roberto Oliviera ‘Robertinho’ was also happy with the friendly match which gave him chance to try out some options. “This has been a good match because we played against a team which is also in the group stage of the Champions League,” added the Simba coach.}

_{Simba SC will travel to Guinea to face Horoya this weekend in a Group C match of the CAF Champions League. The other teams in the group include; Raja CA (Morocco) and Uganda’s Vipers SC.}

_{Al Hilal are in Group B alongside former winners Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Cameroon’s Cotton Sport. Al Merriekh from Sudan are the other team from the CECAFA region that play in the group stage. .}