SIMBA are keen to make it into CAF Champions League semis as they face Wydad Casablanca at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco tonight.
It is a return leg match of the contest which clears a side that sail into the last-four category of Africa’s biggest club showpiece.
The venue is familiar to Simba as they faced Raja Casablanca there in their last group stage encounter on April 1st despite losing 3-1 with Jean Baleke scoring the solitary goal for the visitors.
Baleke is also the man who enabled his side to place one foot in the semifinals after netting the priceless goal in their 1-0 first leg clash success over Wydad Casablanca at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium last week.
As such; the Msimbazi Street Reds are aware in advance about the atmosphere they expect to get from the hosting fans at the 45,000 capacity Stade Mohammed V arena, who are reportedly to have purchased all tickets ahead of the essential match.
Simba Assistant coach Juma Mgunda said they are aware of that and they know what to do in order to earn a ticket to play in the semifinals so as to fulfill the pledge they have made.
“All precaution details have been considered as we play against one of the big teams in Africa as the current defending champions. We know they have a good team and are playing at home, but we have our own strategy,” Mgunda said.
Adding, he said that they have had enough time to study their opponents well on how they play their home matches and have gathered key details which are vital in today’s match.
On his part, Juan Garrido for Wydad Casablanca reiterated they are going to use well the home ground advantage to stamp positive results and cruise to the semifinals.
“This is a big opportunity for us to win the game and fulfill our mission of parading to the last four…we know Simba are a good team and they won the first leg encounter in Tanzania, but this is a new game to both of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, if Simba succeed to make it to the Champions League’s last four, they are going to play it for the second time, as they did it in 1974.