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Tanzania Mainland envoys Simba will try to recover and move a step closer to the knockout stages when they face Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, in CAF Champions League group D, matchday three tonight in Alexandria.
Simba will need to register positive results at the Borg
The Msimbazi Street lads need to put aside their previous results aside and focus on how they could contain their opponents to ensure they post positive results.
Going into tonight’s encounter, Simba must significantly improve in defense, where Pascal Wawa, Jjuuko Murshid, Nicholas Gyan
With an exception of Hussein, who is reportedly to have picked a knock and is likely to be replaced by Ghanaian Asante Kwasi, Simba defensive shape is likely to remain the same, protecting goalkeeper, Aishi
The back four will certainly need to keep high level of concentration throughout the game and avoid laxity so as to put at bay Ahly’s strikers Salah Mohsen, Amro El Sulaya, Tunisian Ali Maaloul and Nigerian-import Junior Ajay.
Simba’s striking force has received a major boost with the return of skipper, John Bocco, who missed Vita’s match due to injury. The lanky striker will link up with Ugandan ace Emmanuel Okwi and Meddie Kagere and they must ensure they execute well their task by giving hard time to their opponents’ defence.
Speaking about the match, Simba Belgian tactician, Aussems has piled praise on the Egyptian side alias the Red Castle as a tough side to face.
Al Ahly is under the tutelage of Uruguayan tactician, Martin Lasarte. Aussems said his side is aware that they are going to face the best team in continent.
Al Ahly won eight Champions League titles. However, he said that coaches know how to stop Al Ahly and cause them problems but what matters is all about the execution of plans.
Despite commending his opponents, Aussems said he is confident that his side will not make it an easy game for their opponents on the pitch. However, he said to get positive results, will come down to the extent of how his players will execute his plan.
Skipper, Bocco said the group was still open to all teams and the results of the third round would help to give a clear picture on the direction of the teams. It will be the second time both sides lock horns in a CAF competition.
Thirty-four years ago, they met in the 1985 African Cup Winners’ Cup second round. Simba won 2-1 at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza before Ahly guaranteed an aggregate win with a 2-0 victory in Cairo.
The Red Devils went to win the now defunct competition. Record champions Ahly started their group campaign with a home 2-0 win over DR Congo giants AS Vita.
They fought back to score a late away equalizer against Algeria’s debutants JS Saoura to raise their tally to four points and go top of the tough looking Group D.
On the other hand, Simba launched their comeback to the group stage after a 15-year hiatus with a home 3-0 win over JS
Senegalese referees will be in charge of the game. They are Maguette Ndiaye, who will be the central referee and will be assisted by Djibril Camara and El Hadji Malick Samba, while the fourth official will be Daouda Gueye.
Al Ahly will be missing no less than nine players due to various injuries. The list includes a team Captain Hossam Ashour, veteran Ahmed Fathy, charismatic Waleed Soliman, in addition to defender Mohamed Naguib and strikers Marwan Mohsen and Walid Azaro, all reportedly unavailable for tomorrow’s encounter.
To add more salt, new recruits Ramadhan Sobhi, Yasser Ibrahim and Hamdy Fathy will also miss the clash due to the same reason.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) revealed that they received security clearance for 10,000 fans to attend Al Ahly, Simba clash. Meanwhile, AS Vita will try to continue their winning ways when they entertain JS Saoura in Kinshasa early on today.
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