YOUNG Africans SC plays host to long-time rival Simba SC in the second phase fixture of the 2023/24 NBC Premier League at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam later in the evening.

Both Yanga and Simba SC have been kicked out of the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, conceding losses to Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly respectively.

Simba SC was eliminated from the premier Africa inter-club showpiece's stage having suffered a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Al Ahly.

Yanga also failed to scale the knockout hurdle in Pretoria, South Africa- losing 3-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns via penalties.

According to soccer stakeholders who spoke to Th Guardian, today's tie will be tough even though Yanga comprehensively beat Simba SC 5-1 in the first phase match which was played last year.

Immediately after Simba SC returned home after taking on Al Ahly, the former bowed out of the CRDB Bank Federation Cup Round of 16 following the loss to Kigoma's Mashujaa FC via penalties.

The penalties had to settle matters, given the clubs had settled for a 1-1 draw in the regular 90 minutes.  

Simba SC prolonged the less convincing outcomes after salvaging a 1-1 draw with Ihefu SC in the 2023/24 NBC Premier League duel in Singida.

Yanga cruised to the last-eight phase of the CRDB Bank Federation Cup with a 2-0 victory over Dodoma Jiji FC.

The showdown's defending champion went on to enjoy success in the NBC Premier League, having wallopped Singida Fountain Gate FC 3-0 at CCM Kirumba, Mwanza.

"We began this week's matches poorly, surely we are moving unsatisfactorily and we do not have much hope because our squad is not as good as Yanga's," a Simba SC fanatic, Otto Julius, revealed.

The other Simba SC supporter Hassan Mohamed noted: "We are going to play against a good team, the league's defending champion, but I think it will be a difficult match... although we lost the first match anything can happen."

Rose Mallahiyo, a member of Yanga's Zeneth Branch located in Muheza, Tanga stated that the branch's members will see to it that they support the squad so it can grab victory in today's tie and maintain its winning ways.

In the league table, Yanga leads the rest of the pack while Simba SC is sitting third.