Al Ahly vs Simba SC: TV channel, live stream, team news and preview
The Red Devils will be keen to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered against the Msimbazi giants in the first meeting held in Dar es Salaam
Tanzania giants Simba SC are in Cairo to complete their Caf Champions League Group A fixtures with a match against Al Ahly on Friday.
Simba, despite the fact they have booked a place in the quarter-finals as group winners, are looking to beat the African champions again and send a strong statement they are among the serious contenders for the title this campaign.
The Cairo-based club will also want to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered in Dar es Salaam and ensure they finish the group engagements with just a single defeat in a pool that was seen as the toughest when the draw was made.
The Msimbazi giants have already booked their quarter-final spot with a game to spare after they beat AS Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4-1 to reach 13 points, leaving Al Ahly second on eight points, albeit a tally enough for them to advance as well, leaving Friday’s game as something of a dead rubber.
| Game | Al Ahly vs Simba SC |
| Date | Friday, April 09, 2021 |
| Time | 22:00 (EAT) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In Tanzania, the game will be LIVE on TV.
| Tanzania TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Azam TV | NONE |
| Outside (Tanzania) TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Azam TV | NONE |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Al Ahly squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ali Lotfi, Mostafa Shobeir, and Hamza Alaa. |
| Defenders | Rami Rabia, Ayman Ashraf, Mahmoud Wahid, Badr Benoun, Yasser Ibrahim, Saad Samir, Ahmad Ramadan Beckham and Mohamed Hany. |
| Midfielders | Amr El-Sulya, Aliou Dieng, Hamdi Fathi, Akram Tawfik, Mohamed Magdy Afsha and Mahmoud Kahraba. |
| Forwards | Junior Ajayi, Mohamed Sherif, Marwan Mohsen, Walter Bwalya. |
Although Pitso Mosimane’s side have booked a place in the knockout stage, the South African tactician may be tempted to parade a strong line-up to tackle the Tanzanian side.
Already under pressure especially after a 2-2 draw against Al Merrikh of Sudan in the last group encounter, the former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician is expected to line up the best stars to take on Simba.
Probable XI for Al Ahly: El Shenawy, Waheed, Ibrahim, Hany, Banoun, Dieng, Fathi, Tawfik, Kahraba, Ajayi, Bwalya.
| Position | Simba SC squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Aishi Manula, Beno Kakolanya, Ally Salim Juma. |
| Defenders | Shomari Kapombe, Joash Onyango, Ibrahim Ame, Erasto Nyoni, Peter Muduhwa, Kennedy Juma, Gadiel Michael, Mohamed Hussein. |
| Midfielders | Tadeo Lwanga, Jonas Mkude, Larry Bwalya, Said Ndemla, Mzamiru Yassin, Luis Miquissone, Hassan Dilunga, Francis Kahata, Ibrahim Ajibu, Clatous Chama, Bernard Morrison. |
| Forwards | Meddie Kagere, Athumani Miraji, John Bocco, and Chris Mugalu. |
Against AS Vita, Simba forward and captain John Bocco did not entirely feature while his striking partner Meddie Kagere started from the bench.
However, Chris Mugalu, who had to be substituted in the second half after a number of missed chances, started as Wekundu wa Msimbazi went on to pick up a convincing win.
Midfielder Clatous Chama and winger Luis Miquissone were impressive against the Black Dolphins and are expected to maintain their positions while at the back, coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa is also expected to keep a backline that has only conceded once in the group stage so far.
That means assistant captain Mohamed ‘Tshabalala’ Hussein, Shomari Kapombe, Joash Onyango and Pascal Wawa will feature against Al Ahly.
Probable XI for Simba SC: Manula, Kapombe, Hussein, Onyango, Wawa, Mkude, Yassin, Chama, Bwalya, Miquissone, Kagere.
Match Preview
A win for the home side will not guarantee them a place above Wekundu wa Msimbazi but both teams are expected to fight for pride nonetheless.
Al Ahly have already scored eight goals, two more than Simba and that means both teams are lethal going forward an aspect that will make the Friday night duel even more competitive.
In 2019, Simba defeated Al Ahly 1-0 and the recent victory in Dar es Salaam is expected to push the Red Devils to fight even more as they would want to end a rather poor run against Wekundu wa Msimbazi.
However, Simba will not take the expected attacks from their rivals lying low as their spokesperson Haji Manara stated they are in Cairo to prove a point.
“Being a big team, Simba are ready to get a positive outcome wherever they play. So our main aim will be to collect maximum points here,” Manara told Goal on Thursday.
“Al Ahly wants to prove they were unfortunate to lose in Dar es Salaam, and Simba wants to prove we are better by winning again on Friday and our first-round win was not a fluke. We have what it takes to defeat them again; why not?
“The team has trained well and the coach [Didier Gomes Da Rosa] admits there will be some changes to the team, but just minimal and will not affect our plan to win.”
In the other group match, AS Vita will be keen to end their group stage matches with a win when they host Al Merrikh in Kinshasa.