SIMBA SC secured their spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after a 3-1 victory over Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli in the second leg of the preliminary round on Sunday afternoon.

 The Tanzanian flag bearers kicked off their continental journey with a first-leg goalless draw in Libya last week, ultimately claiming a 3-1 aggregate win. 

Al Ahli Tripoli took an early lead 18 minutes into the match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, with Angolan veteran striker Agostinho ‘Mabululu’ Paciência capitalizing on sloppy defending by Simba to score from inside the box.

Simba responded in the 37th minute when Denis Kibu equalized, easing the tension among the home fans. 

Just before halftime, Cameroonian forward Leonel Ateba netted Simba's second goal, giving the hosts a 2-1 advantage heading into the break.

The second half saw Simba playing with confidence, and Ateba appeared to have scored again, but the goal was ruled out for offside. 

In injury time, substitute Edwin Balua sealed the victory with a third goal, cementing Simba’s 3-1 aggregate triumph and securing their spot in the group stage of the CAF inter-club competition for the fifth consecutive season.

Head coach Fadlu Davids praised his team for staying disciplined, even after going behind early in the match. 

"I have to commend the players because we went through scenarios - what to do if we go a goal ahead or behind. 

“It’s easy to lose structure when you fall behind, but the players stuck to the game plan and remained calm," Davids said during the post-match press conference.

He added: "The turning point was getting the equalizer before halftime, which shifted the game’s dynamics. In the second half, with the heat and the space behind their defense, we were able to exploit it well. 

“It was a disciplined and well-executed performance. Huge credit to the players."

The CAF Confederation Cup group stage matches are set to take place between October and December 2024, with the knockout stages and final scheduled between March and May 2025.