THE 2023-24 NBC Premier League will stage its penultimate round of matches this afternoon, with all eight fixtures kicking off simultaneously across the country.

With Young Africans crowned champions last week, second place and a CAF Champions League spot, third place and a Confederation Cup ticket are the positions remaining to jostle for in the top half in today and Tuesday’s final rounds.

Azam and Simba are both on 63 points in the race for second place which holds the final CAF Champions League ticket. 

Azam currently occupy second place and only ahead of third-placed Simba thanks to a superior goal difference.

They have a tricky assignment ahead of them, as they host Kagera Sugar who need at least one point to confirm safety.

Simba meet fifth-placed KMC at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium. 

The match was initially set to be played at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium in Dar es Salaam but later moved to Arusha at the request of hosts Simba.

For the top four, Coastal Union remain the clear favourites to clinch the CAF Confederation ticket. 

They are five points ahead of their closest top-four challenger and only need to avoid defeat at home to JKT Tanzania.

Down at the bottom half of the log, eight teams can still be relegated either directly or through the playoffs.

 The eight teams are Kagera Sugar, JKT Tanzania, Singida Fountain Gate, Dodoma Jiji, Mashujaa, Tabora United, Geita Gold and Mtibwa Sugar.

Two of the six will go down automatically while relegation and promotion playoff offers a second chance for the 14th and 13th placed sides at the end of the regular season.

Kagera Sugar, JKT Tanzania, Dodoma Jiji and Singida Fountain Gate all need points to be sure of avoiding relegation, while Mashujaa hope to beat them to it.

For the four sides below the red line, Mtibwa Sugar and Geita Gold can be relegated this weekend, while Mashujaa’s survival can be confirmed.

The most important match is a relegation six-pointer between the 13th-placed Mashujaa and rock-bottom Mtibwa Sugar. 

The match will take place at Lake Tanganyika Stadium.

Mashujaa are eight points ahead of Mtibwa Sugar and can clinch survival with a win today. 

Failing that, it will have a second chance at home to Dodoma Jiji in the final round. 

If Mtibwa Sugar lose they will be relegated with a game to spare.

Tabora United have the unenviable task of facing hosts Young Africans who, despite wrapping up its third straight title with three games to spare, want to make their fans who are expected to turn up for the trophy presentation ceremony at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium happy.

Today, May 25:

All matches kick-off at 4pm: 

Coastal Union v JKT Tanzania (Mkwakwani Stadium, Tanga), Simba v KMC ( Sheikh Amri Abeid, Arusha), Ihefu v Dodoma Jiji (Liti Stadium, Singida), Azam v Kagera Sugar (Chamazi Complex, Dar).

Mashujaa v Mtibwa Sugar (Lake Tanganyika Stadium, Kigoma), Singida Fountain Gate v Geita Gold (CCM Kirumba, Mwanza), Namungo v Tanzania Prisons (Majaliwa Stadium, Ruangwa), Young Africans v Tabora United (Benjamin Mkapa, Dar)