Simba buoyant despite loss to Raja

So what happens to Simba after their 3-1 loss to Raja Casablanca, really nothing as they were already qualified prior to going to Morocco.

It was Simba’s third loss of their group stage of the CAF Champions League, still Simba have become the only team from East Africa to qualify for quarter final this season.

The game staged at Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco yesterday, saw the Msimbazi Street giants ending group stage mission with three wins and three losses.

They have since scored 10 goals in six matches which has enabled to collect 50m/- motivation from President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

In the same token, Simba have conceded 7 goals with six of them coming from Raja Casablanca while one goal was scored by Horoya in their 1-0 win during the group stage’s opener.

The hosts seized the lead in the 44th minute when Hamza Khabba put the Moroccan giants upfront before Baleke leveled the deficit to make it 1-1 in the 48th minute.

Khabba completed his brace via a spot-kick in the 70th minute to put back his team on the driving seat after Simba center-back Joash Onyango committed a foul in the box.

As this was not enough, in the 86th minute, Mohamed Boulacsout sealed the deal by netting a third goal making it a cumbersome task for Roberto Oliveira’s charges to challenge.

With the outcome, Raja have ended group C campaign without tasting defeat with 16 points in the bag.

For Simba, they remain with 9 points while Horoya are third courtesy of 7 points and Vipers stay glued at the base of the table with 2 points.

Both Raja and Simba have secured qualifications into the quarterfinals of the Champions League and are waiting to know their opponents during a CAF draw slated next week.

However, pundits have acknowledged Simba for the way they approached the away game in Morocco saying it was a befitting preparatory duel for the incoming quarterfinals and they have to improve to impress.