EGYPT’s Al Ahly squad is scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam today for the crucial CAF Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash against Simba SC on Friday.

Hossam Ghaly, a member of Al Ahly's Board of Directors, Khaled Bibo, the club's Football Director, and Samir Adly, the Managing Director, arrived in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

The trio was part of the advance party dealing with all crucial matters related to the trip including accommodation and training facilities booking.

The Egyptian champions will have some pre-match training sessions at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club in the evening to prepare themselves ahead of the big game.

Al Ahly will then have a feel of the match venue, Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, on Thursday evening.

The Egyptian soccer powerhouse's return leg match against Simba SC will take place at Cairo International Stadium on April 5.

The aggregate winner of this clash will go on to face the victor in another quarterfinal tie between DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and Petro de Luanda of Angola in the semi-finals set for late April.

On the one hand, Simba SC hammered Jwaneng Galaxy 6-0 to finish second in Group B of the premier continental showdown, two points off leaders ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast.

On the other hand, Al Ahly topped their group ahead of Tanzania's Young Africans SC, alias Yanga, having garnered 12 points in six matches.

Despite facing each other six times in the last five years, the two sides will be meeting for the first time at this stage of the competition.

During the inaugural edition of the African Football League (AFL) last October, Simba SC and Al Ahly could not be separated after drawing both games in Dar es Salaam and Cairo. 

However, Ahly advanced to the next round based on the away goals rule, given it registered two goals away.

In the 2020/21 season, Simba SC topped their CAF Champions Group, and their only loss came to Al Ahly when both sides had already qualified.

Simba SC edged Al Ahly 1-0 in Dar es Salaam courtesy of Mozambican midfielder Luis Miquissone's first-half strike.

Al Ahly exacted revenge with a similar scoreline in the last Group Stage game of the campaign in Cairo.

In 2018/19, Al Ahly handed Simba one of their biggest continental defeats with a 5-0 score in Cairo.

Simba SC managed to win 1-0 thanks to Meddie Kagere’s goal in the reverse tie at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium which helped them secure a second-place finish behind the Egyptian giants and ahead of third-placed AS Vita of DR Congo.