Davids calls must-win against CS Sfaxien

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA Head Coach Fadlu Davids has underscored the importance of today’s CAF Confederation Cup Group A match against the Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien, calling it a must-win game for his team as they strive to improve chances of advancing beyond the group stage.

The match will take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Currently, Simba sit in second place in the group with three points, just three points behind leaders CS Constantine, who have six points. Bravos do Maquis are in third place, also with three points, while CS Sfaxien are at the bottom of the table with no points.

In a pre-match interview, Davids made it clear that his team intends to capitalise on their home advantage to secure all three points.

“Of course, it’s a match. We are at home and we are expected to win. We will do everything in our power to prepare and plan, focusing on the details to secure the three points.

“It’s going to be a very tough game; they have good players up front and are dangerous. We need to fight because we have good talents,” he noted.

Davids also reflected on Simba’s previous match against CS Constantine, where they lost by 2-1 and identified key areas for improvement. “In the last match, our performance was good, but we conceded two goals in about three minutes, which was crucial. We have to learn from that and be more focused.”

His counterpart, CS Sfaxien head coach Alexandra Do Santos noted he is focused on securing points against Simba for its crucial match for their survival in the Confederation Cup.

“We have to get points now,” Do Santos said.

He reflected on the team’s struggles during their early matches, especially the difficult adaptation process in Angola during the second week of the competition.

“It was difficult for us to adapt to the environment, but now we are focused on the final phase. We need to pull the best from each player and staff to reach the top positions in the group stage.”

Despite the challenges, Do Santos remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“Our biggest challenge is not about the environment or the crowd, but rather ensuring the players are motivated.

 “We know the importance of playing in these kinds of atmospheres, with large crowds and high pressure and we must use that as motivation to perform at our best.”

CS Sfaxien, who are currently bottom of Group A without a point, will need to put in a strong performance to keep their hopes alive in the competition.