SIMBA SC has had a boost in its preparation for the 2023/24 CAF Champions League’s quarterfinal match against Al Ahly SC as the latter has been hit by an injury crisis.

The anxiously awaited match will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on March 29, 2024. 

The Msimbazi Street club’s opponent- Al Ahly SC- has experienced a series of injuries, as one of the outfit’s key players, Emam Ashour, has been ruled out of the match against Simba SC.

This is a major blow for Al Ahly SC given Ashour is a talented midfielder who has been in good form this season.

Simba SC will be hoping to take advantage of Al Ahly SC’s injury problems.

The team is confident of winning the match and advancing to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League for the first time in six consecutive seasons of CAF Champions League participation.

Simba SC is currently in Zanzibar for a training camp. The team is under the tutelage of Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha.

Just days before their upcoming crucial match, Al Ahly, the reigning CAF Champions League champion, received a blow with another player added to the squad's growing list of casualties.

The team’s woes deepened as midfielder Ashour sustained an injury, marking the fifth player sidelined due to various ailments.

The news comes as a significant setback for Al Ahly, who are gearing up for an important match.

Ashour’s injury adds to the mounting concerns surrounding the team’s fitness and availability of key players.

As the reigning champions, Al Ahly faces increased pressure to maintain their dominance on the field, but the recent string of injuries poses a considerable challenge to their aspirations.

Ashour suffered an injury just 24 minutes into the match as Egypt’s national team secured a hard-fought victory against New Zealand at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

Despite the setback, the Egypt national side emerged triumphant with a narrow 1-0 win, delighting the local fans with their spirited performance on the field.

Preliminary tests have revealed that Ashour has suffered a dislocated shoulder, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming match against Simba SC in Dar es Salaam on March 29.

The club is awaiting further information regarding the extent of his injury and the anticipated duration of his absence.

With just four days remaining until the scheduled match, Al Ahly faces uncertainty over the participation of one of their key players in this crucial fixture.

Ashour joins the growing list of injured players, raising concerns as the team prepares to face Simba SC in the quarterfinals.

With goalkeeper and captain Mohammed El Shenawy, holding midfielder Aliou Dieng, forward Hussein El Shahat, and central defender Yasser Ibrahim already sidelined, the mounting injuries amplify the pressure on Al Ahly’s camp. 

As they gear up for the crucial match against Simba SC, the absence of key players poses a formidable challenge.

As the showdown with Simba SC approaches, Al Ahly finds itself under increasing pressure, given the team’s less convincing record against the Tanzanian side.

In their six encounters at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Al Ahly has yet to secure a victory, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 2-2 draw during the quarter-final match of the new African Football League (AFL).

The two teams further faced off twice in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, with Simba emerging victorious 1-0 on both occasions.

However, it should be noted that Simba SC has never managed to secure a win against Al Ahly at the Cairo International Stadium, with the Egyptian giants claiming two victories and a draw in their encounters on home turf.

Simba SC heads into this crucial CAF Champions League quarterfinal clash brimming with confidence.

The Tanzanian outfit roared through to the Group Stage, finishing second whilst giants Wydad Casablanca, which was in Group B that included the former, exited the tournament early for the first time in their history.

Simba SC also managed a resounding 6-0 victory over Jwaneng Galaxy in their last Group Stage meeting at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Benjamin Mkapa Stadium has proven to be a fortress for Simba SC, and the outfit will be looking to leverage that advantage against the mighty Al Ahly.

While Al Ahly represents a formidable opponent, especially in the knockout stages, Simba SC finds itself buoyed by its recent successes.

A win at home would see the Msimbazi Street club inch closer to garnering a coveted semi-final berth in the CAF Champions League.