SIMBA SC claimed a crucial 2-0 victory against CS Constantine at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium yesterday, propelling them to the top of their CAF Confederation Cup Group A standings.

The win guarantees Simba a second-leg home advantage in the quarterfinals.

Simba’s breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Kibu Denis unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike after combining well with Fabrice Ngoma and Elie Mpanzu. 

The goal left CS Constantine goalkeeper Zakaria Bouhalfaya with no chance.

The win was sealed in the 80th minute when Leonel Ateba calmly converted a cross from overlapping fullback Shomari Kapombe.

With this result, Simba now lead Group A with 13 points, edging out CS Constantine, who sit in second place with 12 points. Both teams have already secured their spots in the quarterfinals.

 By topping the group, Simba avoid facing past champions like RS Berkane, Zamalek, and USM Alger - teams that have all claimed the CAF Confederation Cup title in the last five seasons -in the quarterfinals.

 CS Constantine approached the match defensively, often with ten players behind the ball, relying on counterattacks. Simba dominated possession and created several chances throughout the game.

In the first half, Jean Ahoua made Simba’s first significant attempt in the 16th minute, only to be denied by Bouhalfaya. 

Mohamed Hussein’s cross struck the crossbar in the 29th minute, while Ahoua missed an opportunity to connect with Leonel Ateba’s delivery in the 37th minute.

The second half saw Simba intensify their attacks. Mpanzu squandered two clear chances in the 52nd and 55th minutes before Kibu broke the deadlock.

The match was played behind closed doors due to a one-match crowd ban and a $40,000 fine (approximately Tsh. 100 million) imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). 

This disciplinary action followed fan misconduct during Simba’s 2-1 win over CS Sfaxien in December 2024.

 Simba last reached the quarterfinals in the 2021/2022 season, where they were eliminated by Orlando Pirates on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

This season, the Tanzanian giants are determined to go further, aiming for their first CAF Confederation Cup final. 

With their group stage performance setting a strong foundation, Simba are poised to make a deep run in the competition.

Simba starting X1

Moussa Camara, Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Fondoh Che Malone, Abdulrazack Hamza, Fabrice Ngoma, Yusuph Kagoma, Jean Ahoua, Leonel Ateba, Elie Mpanzu, Kibu Denis.