Simba SC join Young Africans in CAF Champions League quarters

Simba Sports Club have qualified for the quarter final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League for a second straight season.

Coach Abdelhak Benchikha’s side were in great form humbling Botswana’s Janweng Galaxy FC 6-0 in a Group B match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday evening.

Simba SC who needed nothing less than a win scored through Saidi Ntibazonkiza, Pape Omar Jobe, Dennis Kibu, Clatous Chama, Ladaki Chasami and Fabrice Ngoma to make sure they picked the three vital points.

“I am very happy that the players responded so well and gave their best to win this important match. We now need to plan well for the quarter final stage,” said a happy Benchikha after the match on Saturday.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan went on to congratulate Simba SC for registering yet another achievement. “Congratulations to Simba Club for successfully qualifying for the quarter-finals of the African Champions League. Your success is not only joy and pride for the fans and members of the Lions Club, but also for the Nation and all Tanzanians,” said the President.

Simba SC finished second in Group B behind Ivory Coast’s ASEC Mimosas. Another Tanzanian side Young Africans SC who also booked a quarter final slot last weekend lost 1-0 away to Al Ahly in a Group D match played in Cairo on Friday.

Another team from the CECAFA Zone Al Hilal from Sudan lost their last Group C match 1-0 away to ES Tunis on Saturday to finish third in the group.

It will also be the first time that two teams from the CECAFA Zone play at the quarter final stage of the CAF Champions League in the same season.

Last season Simba SC fell out in the quarter final stage, while Young Africans SC lost in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederations Cup.

Teams that qualified for the quarter final stage

Group A: Memelodi Sundowns (South Africa), TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Group B: ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), Simba SC (Tanzania)

Group C: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola)

Group D: Al Ahly (Egypt), Young Africans SC (Tanzania)