SIMBA Sports Club departed Tanzania early yesterday morning for Tunisia, where they will face CS Sfaxien in a decisive CAF Confederation Cup Group A match on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

The team, comprising 22 players, aims to secure a positive result that will strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Simba’s Media and Communications Manager, Ahmed Ally, emphasized the team’s determination to secure victory against CS Sfaxien, describing it as a mission-driven trip. 

“We are heading to Tunisia with one objective – to win and strengthen our position in the group,” he said.

The match will take place behind closed doors as CS Sfaxien serves a two-game fan ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to crowd trouble in their previous home fixtures.

Simba will need a win or at least a draw in Tunisia to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. CS Sfaxien has been the weakest team in Group A, losing all their first-round matches, making them a key target for other teams to capitalize on in the second round of group games.

Simba’s final group-stage match will be a home fixture against CS Constantine, and the Tanzanian giants aim to secure at least 10 points to ensure progression to the next stage. 

The next three weeks will be critical for Simba as they complete their remaining group-stage matches. After the game in Tunisia, Simba will travel to Angola to face Bravos on January 12 before returning to Tanzania for the final group match against CS Constantine on January 19.

Simba, CS Constantine, and Bravos all currently have six points each, leaving Group A finely poised. With every team having an equal chance of advancing, results in away matches will be pivotal.

Simba’s qualification scenario is straightforward – winning their home game and securing points on the road will significantly boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. While nine points might suffice for qualification, attaining 10 or more points would provide a stronger assurance of advancing.

As the group-stage campaign enters its final stretch, Simba are determined to maintain focus and deliver performances that will propel them to the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Full squad traveling to Tunisia:

Goalkeepers: Moussa Camara, Hussein Abel, Ally Salim

Defenders: Karaboue Chamou, Che Malone Fondoh, Abdulrazak Hamza, Valentin Nouma, Mohamed Hussein, Shomari Kapombe, Kelvin Kijili

Midfielders: Mzamiru Yassin, Fabrice Ngoma, Yusuph Kagoma, Elie Mpanzu, Augustine Okejepha, Kibu Denis, Debora Fernandes, Ladaki Chasambi, Awesu Awesu, Jean Charles Ahoua

Forwards: Leonal Ateba, Steven Mukwala.