From comfort to collapse•••Simba surrender two-goal lead in 2–2 draw

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA SC failed to hold on to a two-goal lead, being held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Esperance de Tunis at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, leaving Tanzania’s giants with slim hopes of progressing from Group D.

The match began cautiously, with Simba showing attacking intent through neat short passes, while Esperance relied on long balls and rapid counter-attacks. Early chances were shared, with Esperance striker Jack Diarra brought down by Rushine Deruk in the 10th minute, earning a warning rather than a card.

Diarra tested Simba’s defence again in the 13th minute, but goalkeeper Djibrilla Kassali was alert to deny him. Simba dominated possession down the left flank, with Nickson Kibabage orchestrating play and combining effectively with Clatous Chama.

The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when right-back Shomari Kapombe reacted quickest to a Kibabage cross, nodding home after his initial shot was blocked, sending the home crowd into raptures. Just five minutes later, Simba doubled their advantage. Yusuf Kagoma produced a diving header to finish a flowing move orchestrated by Chama, putting the hosts 2-0 up at the break.

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The second half, however, told a different story. Simba’s rhythm was disrupted in the 57th minute when both Kagoma and defensive midfielder Wilson Nangu were forced off with injuries. Kagoma collided with an Esperance player and was replaced by Nabi Camara, while Nangu’s substitute, Ismail Toure, unwittingly gifted the visitors a goal.

In the 64th minute, Aboubakari Diakite capitalised on Toure’s misplaced back pass, rounded Kassali, and slotted home to pull one back. Esperance’s momentum grew, and they completed the comeback in the 79th minute when Couselia Boualia curled a beautiful effort from the edge of the box into the far corner.

Simba pressed for a winner in the closing stages but struggled to break down Esperance’s compact defence. The visitors were handed a late chance to snatch all three points when Hamza Jelassi earned a stoppage-time penalty, but he fired over the bar.

Despite spirited goals from Kapombe and Kagoma, Simba remain bottom of Group D with one point from four matches, leaving them with virtually no realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage.