Simba on hilly road to semis

CAIRO: SIMBA suffered a 2-0 defeat to Al Masry in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals at New Suez Stadium today.

Goals from Abderrahim Deghmoum and John Okoye handed Al Masry a crucial home victory, leaving the tie to be decided next Wednesday at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

It was in the 16th minute, the game took an unexpected turn when Al Masry’s forward Deghmoum unleashed a thunderous strike from well outside the box.

With his powerful shot, Deghmoum caught Simba’s goalkeeper, Moussa Camara, off guard. The ball soared through the air, cutting past a defender just metres from Camara.

As it descended, it hit the ground with a bounce, skipping off the turf like a skipping stone.

Camara, in a desperate bid to prevent the ball from reaching the net, stretched wide, fully extending his body to intercept the shot but it was to no avail.

The strike, powerful and unpredictable, found its way past him and into the net, handing the home side an early and well-deserved lead.

Simba quickly responded with two threatening attempts in the 24th and 27th minutes.

First, Leonel Ateba fired a shot towards goal, but Al Masry’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Gad, was equal to the task, making a solid save. Moments later, Jean Charles Ahoua tried his luck, sending another powerful effort toward the net, only for Gad to once again show his composure, diving expertly to deny the chance.

Simba dominated possession throughout the match, but Al Masry’s defense proved resolute and well-organised. The home side remained compact, patiently waiting for any opportunity to exploit Simba’s vulnerabilities on the break.

ALSO READ: Yanga silence Tabora Utd with 3-0 drub

This strategy forced Simba’s defenders to be extra cautious when pushing forward, knowing they were vulnerable to swift counter-attacks.

On several occasions, Simba’s goalkeeper Camara was forced to step out of his area to intervene, clearing the ball from the path of oncoming attackers.

His timely decisions and swift actions helped prevent any further danger, providing a crucial shield for his team and ensuring the scoreline remained intact.

Simba came out strong in the second half, with Kibu Denis and Elie Mpanzu leading the charge in their relentless pressing against Al Masry.

It quickly became clear that Al Masry’s defense and goalkeeper were in for a tough battle.

In the 49th minute, Mpanzu unleashed a powerful shot that forced a vital save from Al Masry’s goalkeeper Gad. Just three minutes later, Jean Charles Ahoua stepped up for a free kick, sending a well-placed effort toward goal. Gad was again called into action, diving to deny the attempt.

Despite his heroic efforts, the pressure from Simba was mounting, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Al Masry to keep the visitors at bay. The two early chances were a clear warning—Simba was not backing down.

Simba fought valiantly to the very end, but in the dying moments of the game, they conceded a second goal. John Okoye, fresh off the bench, played the role of the unlikely hero for Al Masry.

He pounced on a rebound following a save by Simba’s goalkeeper Camara, who had initially denied a dangerous cross.

As the ball ricocheted away from the keeper, Okoye was perfectly positioned to latch onto it, making a quick, decisive touch that sent it crashing into the back of Simba’s net.

It was a cruel blow for Simba, who had fought with everything they had, but Al Masry’s clinical finish sealed the game late on.