HISTORY is stacked against Simba SC heading into today’s CAF Champions League quarterfinal’s second-leg fixture against defending champions Al Ahly at Cairo International Stadium, with kick-off slated for 11 pm.

Chadian referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat will be in charge of the match. Gabon’s Pierre Ghislain Atcho will be in the video assistant referees (VAR) studio and he will be assisted by South Africa’s Akhona Zennith Makalima.
 
Hosts Al Ahly takes a 1-0 aggregate lead into the match. Simba SC put in an impressive display in the first leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

Simba SC was however ultimately undone by a first-half goal netted by Ahmed Koka following a costly error by left fullback Mohamed Hussein and central defender Henock Inonga in the first-leg.

A fourth quarterfinal exit in five seasons awaits the Tanzanian outsiders, should their Cairo comeback mission end in failure, and, on their four previous trips to Al Ahly's turf, they have avoided defeat only once.

However, Simba SC head coach Abdelhak Benchikha has not thrown the towel though he admits it is a tough mission to get a good result in Cairo.

"We have not given up. We want to use the second leg away in Cairo. As much as it will be tough, we will have to push to the end," Benchikha said.

Not one Simba SC player was missing from Benchikha's squad through injury against Al Ahly, and the Algerian coach should have a fully fit contingent available again, save for the absence of shot-stopper Aishi Manula.

Moroccan goalkeeper Ayub Lakhred will continue taking his place between the posts on the back of an excellent first-leg performance.

Hussein, Shomari Kapombe, Inonga, and Che Malone will form the back four tasked with stopping Al Ahly from scoring and inflicting damage.

In this fixture, Simba SC will need their players to fight and put an impressive work rate in midfield.

Benchikha will be hoping that Sadio Kanoute, Babacar Sarr, and Fabrice Ngoma will do the work in the engine room.

Simba SC needs to score to advance to the semi-finals, they will look to the front three of Kibu Denis, Saidi Ntibazonkiza, and Clatous Chama.

Al Ahly has nine wins and two draws in the last 11 home outings in the CAF Champions League.

They also remain unbeaten in the CAF Champions League this season, having secured three wins and three draws to finish atop Group D before putting Simba SC to the sword.

History on Marcel Kohler's side as they look to complete the job against Simba SC in their quest for a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title.

The aggregate winner will take on either DR Congo’s football powerhouse TP Mazembe or Angolan champions Petro Luanda in the semi-finals.