The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Finals kicked off on Friday, 29 March, with reigning champions Al Ahly SC facing Tanzanian giants Simba SC in Dar es Salaam for the first leg of the Quarter-Finals.
Despite playing in front of a passionate crowd of 60,000, the North African giants showcased their experience, clinching a hard-fought 1-0 win to take back to Cairo for the second leg.
Ahmed Kouka was the early hero for Al Ahly, securing the first-leg victory with an early goal. The Egyptian side effectively absorbed the pressure from Simba throughout the match.
Simba began strongly, posing questions for their opponents from the outset. Sadio Kanoute’s early effort narrowly missed the target, setting the tone for an intense encounter.
However, it was Mohamed Hany’s dangerous ball down the right flank that led to the opening goal. Kouka capitalized on a rebound off the goalkeeper to fire home from close range.
Despite the setback, Simba continued to press for an equalizer. Clatous Chama and Kanoute both came close to scoring but were denied by impressive saves from Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
In the second half, Simba maintained their attacking intent but struggled to break down Al Ahly’s resilient defense. Despite their efforts, they were unable to find the breakthrough.
The return leg promises to be another intense encounter as Simba looks to overturn the deficit in Cairo. Despite the loss, Simba can take pride in their performance and will approach the second leg with confidence.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League action continues in Tanzania on Saturday, 30 March, with Young Africans set to take on Mamelodi Sundowns at the same venue.
