Simba and Al Ahly have become familiar foes in African football and will be renewing rivalries in the CAFCL quarterfinals. The first leg will be in Dar es Salaam on, Friday, 29th March 2024.
Simba SC Probable XI: Lakred; Kapombe, Inonga, Malone, Hussein; Ngoma, Sarr; Denis, Ntibazonkiza, Chama; Jobe (4-2-3-1).
Al Ahly Probable XI: Shobeir; Hany, Rabia, Abdelmonem, Maaloul; Attia, Sulaya, Afsha; Tau, Kahraba, El Shahat (4-3-3).
What is at Stake?
We don’t have to go back very far for when these two teams last met. This was during the AFL quarterfinals where both legs ended in draws but Ahly advanced on away goals rule. Simba takes pride in the fact that this was their best QF showing in a run stretching five years. They have been going from strength to strength from the drubbing by TP Mazembe to going on a penalty shootout with Wydad Casablanca. There’s a feeling that this team, that’s really on its last legs, has come of age. What can I say about Al Ahly? They have recently been reaching the final every season. So, all of this could be said to be a nuisance ahead of the inevitable and only relevant match to the Red Devils. Complacency kills, though.
Simba recovered from a terrible start to the group stage to qualify second from Group B. They come into this match on the ascendancy having lost only one of their last 14 matches – although the top position of Ligi Kuu continues to evade them. Coach, Benchikha has the team on a camp in Zanzibar to prepare for another Ahly-Simba showdown. The first XI is expected to be the usual even if, goalkeeper, Manula is ruled out. The expectation is that the attacking mid trio of Kibu Denis, Ntibazonkiza and Claytous Chama can be on form on the day. This will not only create a threat but also pull back Ahly’s attacking midifielder on the day to do defensive duties and therefore neuter them. Unfortunately, they’ve blown hot and cold throughout the season. What Simba will definitely have going for them is a terrific home form. One simply doesn’t win matches at Benjamin Mkapa versus Simba.
Al Ahly should have something to say about that. They are on a stretch of eight matches, or so, unbeaten away from home in the CAFCL. In fact, the last lost a match a very long time ago in the CAFCL. But we’ve seen chinks in the armour recently. First, in the Egypt Cup final, Ahly was very ordinary against Zamalek. I’m surprised this wasn’t brought up in detail. No surprise that this was followed up by a 4-3 league defeat to National Bank. To heap more misery on them, Emam Ashour joined the list of injured Al Ahly players. I have to say, though, that Afsha is capable of replacing him as a guy who can win matches by himself. He just doesn’t get that love anymore. The other headache besetting Marcel Koller is Percy Tau’s form, otherwise, he has a lot going for him. There’s the left-wing combination of Maaloul and El Shahat, a team that has been together for a minute and the fact that all of the strikers are pitching in with goals here and there – as they should obviously. Reda Slim is also alive and kicking.
Prediction
Simba SC 1-1 Al Ahly
These teams not only know each other well but their respective squads are highly experienced in CAFCL football – even if Simba hasn’t been lucky to go beyond this stage. This means that they’ll place the premium on minimizing mistakes even if it comes at the cost of getting a win. Simba taking initiative as host and Ahly’s clinical nature should result in a scored draw.
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