SIMBA's new signing, Lionel Ateba, is set to make his debut for the club in a friendly match against Al Hilal at the KMC Stadium on Saturday. This match serves as preparation for their upcoming CAF Confederations Cup campaign.

Al Hilal, a Sudanese club currently competing in the Mauritanian Premier League due to political unrest at home, participated in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup tournament last month, where they were eliminated in the semifinals.

Ateba (pictured) missed Simba's opening two league matches as he awaited his work permit and registration, despite training with the squad. 

The Cameroonian striker, who brings a wealth of experience to the club, has played for top teams in his home country and represented Cameroon at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Although he didn’t see playing time during the tournament, his potential caught the attention of several clubs, including Al Ahly, Young Africans, and USM Alger.

Primarily a center forward, Ateba has also been deployed on the left wing or as a second striker, especially during his tenure at USM Alger. This versatility allowed him to significantly contribute to the team’s attacking play, often with his assist tally surpassing his goal count. 

Since joining USMA in January, Ateba made a notable impact by scoring three goals and providing five assists in various competitions, including the Algerian Ligue 1, CAF Confederation Cup, and Coupe d'Algérie.

Ahmed Ally, the Media and Information Manager for Simba, confirmed Ateba's debut in the international friendly against Al Hilal.

 "The team is hard at work preparing for the match. Our goal is to gain some continental experience before facing Al Ahly Tripoli. Our coach's familiarity with Libyan football gives us a significant advantage. Al Hilal is already in town for the match on Saturday," Ally said.

"Lionel Ateba will make his debut for the club this weekend. He has been training with the squad to get ready for the season. Tickets for the match are priced at Tsh. 10,000 for regular seats and Tsh. 20,000 for VIP. We decided on these prices due to the high quality of our team and the exciting match we anticipate," added Ally.

Simba are ramping up preparations for the continental friendly, with the entire squad involved except for Joshua Mutale and Ayoub Lakred, who are sidelined due to injuries. 

The Tanzanian club is set to face Al Ahly Tripoli in the final round of the CAF Confederations Cup qualifiers. This will be Al Ahly Tripoli's second visit to Tanzania, having previously faced Biashara United at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. 

However, Biashara United's failure to travel for the return leg in Benghazi, Libya, led to their disqualification by CAF, allowing Al Ahly Tripoli to advance to the next round.

Simba earned a bye to the final group stage qualifications spot due to their strong coefficient, while Al Ahly Tripoli advanced by defeating Zanzibar’s Uhamiaji 5-1 on aggregate. 

The first leg of the tie will be played at the 11 June Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, on September 13, followed by the return leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on September 20.

Coach Fadlu Davids' team missed out on the CAF Champions League this season after finishing third in the previous campaign. This marks Simba's return to the CAF Confederation Cup following their quarter-final exit in the 2021/2022 season against Orlando Pirates. 

Given their frequent participation in the CAF Champions League, many see Simba's presence in the Confederation Cup as an opportunity to make a deep run and potentially reach the semifinals or beyond.

The CAF Confederation Cup this season features a competitive field, with several teams that have traditionally competed in the CAF Champions League, including Zamalek, RS Berkane, ASEC Mimosas, AS Vita, and USMA, reaching the final group stage qualifiers. 

The winner of the two-legged tie between Al Ahly Tripoli and Simba will secure a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, joining 15 other teams from across Africa in the competition.