Mission not accomplished – Ahoua
DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA’S attacking midfielder, Jean Charles Ahoua, celebrated their 1-0 away victory against CS Sfaxien but stressed that there is still work to be done ahead of their final CAF Confederation Cup group-stage matches.
Simba have two more matches to confirm their place in the quarterfinals. If they win either of the matches against Bravos do Maquis or CS Constantine, they will qualify.
Speaking after Sunday’s match at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, Ahoua said, “I am very happy because this was a crucial game and it was vital for us to win. Thankfully, we managed to achieve what we needed.
However, there is still more work to be done to ensure we qualify for the knockout stage,” said the Ivorian attacking midfielder. It was Ahoua who delivered a spectacular strike in the 34th minute, securing a crucial victory for Simba.
His decisive goal lifted Simba to nine points, putting them level with group leaders CS Constantine. This vital win brought Simba a step closer to securing a quarterfinal berth, with two more group stage matches remaining.
The next challenge will be to finish the group stage strong against Bravos do Maquis and CS Constantine, both of whom are determined to secure their own progress to the knockout stages.
With six points, Bravos do Maquis are just three points behind Simba, while CS Sfaxien are at the bottom of the table, having lost all their matches and already eliminated from contention. The Tunisian side are left to salvage pride in their remaining final group fixtures.
Leonel Ateba, who provided the assist for Ahoua’s goal, also stressed the importance of his teammates maintaining their focus and confidence.
ALSO READ: Simba edge closer to CAF quarters
“I’m happy to help my team win, but as a striker, my job is to score. If I don’t score, I need to contribute with assists,” said the Cameroonian forward.
He cautioned his teammates to stay focused, as they still have two important games ahead. “We need to keep working hard to secure another three points, whether against Bravos do Maquis or CS Constantine,” he added.
Simba SC will next play away to Bravos do Maquis on January 12th, 2025 and will host CS Constantine in their final Group A match on January 19th, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.
