We have chance to eliminate Al Ahly after first leg draw – Coach Oliveira

Simba SC head coach Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira has made it clear that they still have a chance to prove a point when they face Al Ahly in the second leg of the African Football League.

The two teams settled for a 2-2 draw in the first leg quarter final match which ushered in the inuagural African Football League on Friday evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

« We fought from a goal down and later took the lead. But we lacked some sort of concentration later and conceded a second goal. We know what to do in the second leg and the match is still very open, » said the Brazilian tactician.

After lots of attack at goal, Al Ahly took the lead through Moroccan Reda Slim infront of the 60,000 capacity filled Stadium. Later the Tanzanian giants netted two goals in the second half through Denis Kibu and Malian Sadio Kanoute.

But the 11-time African champions kept pushing forward and capitalised on Simba SC’s lack of concentration to level matters after 63 minutes through Mahmoud Kahraba.

Shomari Salum Kapombe, Simba SC’s experienced defender told Cecafaonline that they are more than determined to go a get a good result in the second leg. « We made some mistakes in the first leg, but we are still hungry to perform well and qualify for the semi final stage, » added Kapombe.

The match was watched by several deginatories including the Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and several Member Association Presidents among others.

The Simba SC team together with Al Ahly are expected to travel to Egypt on Saturday ahead of the return leg to be played at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.

Today Angola’s Petro Atletico de Luanda will battle South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, while TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo) will host Esperance Tunis of Tunisia at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, and Nigeria’s Enyimba battle Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca the same day.

Each of the four quarter finalists will receive US$900,000, while the two semi finalists take US$1.7 million each. The runner-up will walk away with US$2.8 million and the winner US$4 million.