Africa-Press – Tanzania. SIMBA SC booked their place in the CAF Champions’ League group stage with a 3–0 aggregate win over Nsingizini Hotspurs, following a goalless draw at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The result completed Tanzania’s quartet in the CAF inter club competitions’ group stages, with Simba joining Young Africans in the Champions’ League group stage and Azam FC together with Singida Black Stars carry the national flag in the CAF Confederation Cup.
This is the first time Tanzania has secured four representatives in the CAF interclub group stages. In previous years, only two clubs most often Simba and Young Africans, with Namungo featuring once had managed to reach this level.
On the yesterday’s encounter the visitors, Nsingizini Hotspurs from Eswatini, began the return leg with energy and intent. Barely two minutes in, had Joel Madondo threatened to pull one back, only for Simba’s defender Rushine De Reuck to intervene with a well-timed clearance.
Moments later, Sinenkosi Dlamini unleashed a fierce drive from outside the box, but goalkeeper Yakoub Ali was alert to keep Simba safe. Simba, calm and methodical, opted for a possession-based approach, building patiently from the back and probing through the flanks.
Nsingizini, by contrast, preferred direct football, pressing high and looking to exploit the wide areas. Their defenders, however, were kept busy by Simba’s mobile attack, with Kingsley Kwakyi tightly marking Kibu Denis and Nkhosingiphile Shongwe shadowing Elie Mpanzu throughout the evening. After a quiet first half, Simba came alive early in the second.
In the 55th minute, Kibu Denis slipped a pass to Mpanzu inside the area, whose shot was blocked by the alert Nsingizini keeper Dlamini Thabo. Two minutes later, Kibu tried his luck from distance, but again the goalkeeper stood firm.
Nsingizini replied almost immediately in the 59th minute, Dlamini broke through but was denied once more by Simba’s custodian. Their best chance arrived on 65 minutes when Simba’s defender, David Kameta fouled Thubelihle Mavuso just outside the box.
Dlamini’s curling free kick beat the wall but rattled the woodwork, drawing a collective gasp from the stands. The moment of drama came midway through the second half when a mix-up between Kwakyi and his goalkeeper nearly cost Nsingizini dearly.
A mistimed back pass left the ball rolling dangerously loose, and Simba’s Jonathan Sowah pounced. His low volley beat the keeper but struck the upright before being scrambled away.
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