ALGERIA: SIMBA’S head coach, Fadlu Davids, has attributed his team’s 2-1 defeat to CS Constantine in the CAF Confederation Cup to defensive mistakes but says he believes there is room for improvement.
Speaking after the match at Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine, Algeria, Davids expressed disappointment with the way his team conceded both goals, describing them as avoidable errors. “The match was good, and it probably should have ended in a draw,” Davids said.
“We lost due to small mistakes in defence and all the goals we conceded were easy. My players will continue to learn, and I am confident they will improve,” he added.
Simba initially took the lead with a goal from Mohamed Husseini Mohamed in the 24th minute.
However, after halftime, a defensive error led to Abdulrazack Hamza’s own goal, which allowed CS Constantine to equalise. Just minutes later, Brahim Dib doubled for Constantine, putting the hosts ahead 2-1.
Despite the loss, Davids highlighted that his team largely controlled the game, noting that CS Constantine did not create significant goal-scoring opportunities.
“They didn’t generate any dangerous chances. We dominated possession, but we were punished from set pieces,” he remarked.
“I had warned my players to avoid giving away corners or free kicks in the first five minutes of the second half, but unfortunately, we failed to execute that.”
As it stands, Simba now sit second in Group A with three points, trailing behind leaders CS Constantine, who have six points. Looking ahead, Davids remains focused on his team’s next challenge—a home match against CS Sfaxien next Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
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Davids reassured fans that the defeat would not derail their goal for the tournament.
“Today’s result does not affect our long-term objectives. We are focusing on our next match, and we remain committed to advancing from the group stage,” he stated.
Simba’s media manager, Ahmed Ally, echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the team’s focus is already on the upcoming fixture. The team is determined to bounce back and continue their pursuit of a spot in the knockout rounds of the competition.
