Simba eye Al Ahly scalp

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA continue to leave no stone unturned as they prepare for the inaugural match of the African Football League (AFL) against Egyptian giants Al Ahly at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

The game will signal the start of an eight-team competition with each side looking forward to stamping a record of winning the inaugural AFL.

As usual, the country’s envoys Simba are peacefully shaping themselves up at their Simba Mo Arena complex, as they seem to garner a positive result at home ahead of the return fixture against the record African champions, Al Ahly.

“We are aware that the game is going to be tough as we are facing a high-profile team on the continent but, in AFL, we are all competing for the first time as such, we are at the same level,” said Simba Media and Communication Manager Ahmed Ally.

He added that doing well in the first leg match on Friday will boost confidence among their players before the reverse fixture to be played in Egypt four days later.

“We should come together to fulfill this objective. For Simba to defeat Al Ahly at Benjamin Mkapa venue will not be a story as we have done that twice but this time, we want to eliminate them from AFL for us to make it to the semifinals,” Ally said.

It should be recalled that on February 23rd, 2021 Al Ahly suffered a 1-0 defeat against Simba at the same arena courtesy of a marvellous long-range strike by Luis Miquissone.

The goal was Miquissone’s ticket to play for the African giants before being released to rejoin his former club and it remains in the brackets on what he is up to on the day if he gets playing time.

In the build up to Friday’s game, Simba are conducting campaigns in various areas across the city of  Dar  es  Salaam as one way to entice people to flock to the stadium in big numbers and be part of history.

Monday, it was the exercise of painting the city whereby stickers concerning the upcoming match were being plastered on vehicles, motorcycles, buildings and many other places, specifically to promote the match.

Already, the club through their Instagram page announced that Platinum Tickets for the match have been sold out.

Platinum Tickets were being sold at 200,000/- and currently, the available tickets are for VIP B being sold at 40,000/-, VIP C at 30,000/- while Orange and Ordinary seats go at 10,000/- and 7000/- respectively.

Simba also announced that VIP A is reserved for government officials, FIFA, and CAF delegation as FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe expect to land in the country for the thrilling match.