Africa-Press – Tanzania. SIMBA grabbed a ticket to play in the CAF Confederation Cup’s group stage following their 4-2 aggregate victory over Red Arrows in the second leg match at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia on Sunday.
Simba’s 3-0 win over Red Arrows dwarfed the 2-1 loss Simba suffered in the fiercely contested yesterday’s encounter.
Simba will play in the Confederation Cup’s group stage for the first time as they have frequently featured in the superior CAF Champions League.
Going to Lusaka with 3-0 lead, Simba knew exactly how the Zambians would approach the game.
Though Simba advanced, still the team’s fans were were in a deep hock when Red Arrows netted their second goal soon after the resumption as it looked their opponents would anytime level the matter.
What really killed the Red Arrows was the vital away goal netted by Hassan Dilunga midway in the second half.
The goal gave Red Arrows a tall order as they had then to score three goals in a 22-minute span.
The best performance for Simba in the continental class competitions was stamped in 1993 when the team reached the final stage of CAF Cup before losing to Stella Abidjan by 2-0. CAF Cup no longer exists today.
Red Arrows scored the two goals through Ricky Banda in the 45th minute and Saddam Phiri in the 48th minute, while Hassan Dilunga scored Simba’s vital goal in the 68th minute.
The return leg game staged in Lusaka was highly competitive as each side played lungs out with Simba relying on counter-attacks and Red arrows banking on the flanks to raid Simba goal.
The game began with high tension; Simba attempted to score early in the 9th minute through Medie Kagere, who completed with a diving header from a set-piece sculptured by Hassan Dilunga, who skillfully outmanouvred Red Arrows defenders.
Red Arrows right-wing Felix Balaya was a gifted player who drove through the defenders and produced multiple opportunities for Ricky Banda and Joseph Phiri who eventually managed to attempt by headers in the 14th, 24th and 32nd minutes.
After making numerous attempts, the Zambian envoys netted an opening goal in the 45th from Ricky Banda, whose stunning volley beat Aishi Manula.
The first half climaxed with the Red Arrows leading 1-0.
Three minutes after the second half, Saddam Phiri doubled for Red Arrows, completing Joseph Phiri’s cross.
After sensing the danger with Red Arrows leading 2-0 Simba’s Spanish trainer, Pablo Franco, brought in Shomari Kapombe for Bernard Morrisson. Kapombe brought an impact on the middle of the terrain. He also brought in Joash Onyango to replace Larry Bwalya in a move to strengthen the defence.
Simba got their vital away goal in the 68th minute through Hassan Dilunga, who skilfully stole the ball from Red Arrows defender and released a powerful shot past the Red Arrows goalkeeper Charles Kalumba.
The Spanish tactician also brought in John Bocco for Kagere and Mzamiru Yassin came in for Dilunga’s place.
The changes improved Simba’s defence and they managed to thwart all raids directed to their goal by Red Arrows.
Simba now wait for the CAF Confederation group stage’s draw.
In Nairobi, Gor Mahia of Kenya bade farewell to the African competition after failing to win at home against the Congolese outfit.
Kenya’s Gor Mahia failed to reach the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after a 1-1 draw against AS Otoho d’Oyo of Congo in the return leg play-off fixture at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.
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