SIMBA SC head coach Abdelhak Benchikha has unexpectedly left the club before the season comes to an end after spending six months at the club- with his next club yet to be revealed.

The Algerian coach helped his outfit lift the Muungano Cup showdown’s title with a 1-0 victory over Azam FC in the final in Zanzibar on Saturday.

The lone goal came courtesy of Senegalese midfielder, Babacar Sarr, to have Benchikha leave whilst having the side winning one trophy.

With the club statement set to be released soon, Benchikha expressed his desire to exit the Msimbazi Street squad to the team leaders before the final of the Muungano Cup showdown. He has left with his technical bench.

The Algerian gaffer is not satisfied with the current competition level in domestic football as well as Simba SC's plans going forward.

Benchikha is aiming at winning the CAF Champions League title, with teams including Morocco's Wydad Casablanca attracting his ambitions.

It is also understood that Benchikha will be revealed soon by his next club in the North part of Africa.

The 60-year-old took over Simba SC's technical bench from Brazilian Roberto Oliveira who was recently fired after the squad's embarrassing 5-1 loss to long-time rival Yanga in the first phase of the NBC Premier League.

Benchikha has, in other competitions this season, led Simba SC to the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup final, CAF Champions League quarterfinals, CRDB Federation Cup Round of 16's exit, and, currently, third place in the NBC Premier League.

The Algerian tactician previously guided USM Alger to clinch the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup title. They claimed it via the away-goal rule after registering the final's 2-2 aggregate draw with Tanzania’s Yanga.

Apart from coaching USM Alger, the tactician enjoyed a spell at other Algerian outfits CR Belouizdad, MC Alger, Algeria's national team, and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca.

Simba SC will now be under interim head coach Juma Mgunda, assisted by Selemani Matola, until the end of the season- while team manager Michael Igendia will lead the physio crew.

After winning the 2024 Muungano Cup title, Simba SC will arrive in Dar es Salaam and head straight to Ruangwa, Lindi for Mainland Tanzania’s NBC Premier League game against Namungo FC.

For the second time, the squad will be under interim head coach Juma Mgunda, assisted by Selemani Matola, to face Namungo FC, alias ‘Southern Killers’, this week.

Mgunda, currently Simba Queens' head coach,  will hand over his reigns to Mussa Hassan ‘Mgosi’, the women’s side’s assistant coach.

Mgunda led Simba SC to this season’s CAF Champions League Group Stage and was later replaced by Oliveira, alias Robertinho.