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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s envoys in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, Simba and Young Africans (Yanga), have a reason to smile following reports that their rivals, Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, will miss their key players in the upcoming matches.
As Al Ahly of Egypt will miss the services of their dependable attacking midfielder, Emam Ashour, due to injury when they meet Simba this Friday, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa will also miss the services of their key player, Themba Zwane who is serving one match ban due to bookings.
The two players are instrumental for their respective clubs in their domestic leagues, continental club competitions as well as for the national football teams.
Ashour picked up an injury when the Egyptian national team met New Zealand and won 1-0 in the world football governing body (FIFA)’s Series international friendly at the Cairo International Stadium.
The attacking midfielder was substituted after a severe collision with one of the opposing players and was moved to hospital and undergone a shoulder surgery.
Ashour, who made his international debut in 2021, has delivered outstanding performances since joining Ahly last summer from FC Midtjylland. He scored three goals in 25 appearances in all competitions.
This is a great morale booster for Simba who will be hosting the historic CAF Champions League quarter final first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday at 9pm East African time.
Simba have been in intensive training ahead of the encounter, targeting victory that will make them qualify for the semifinals of the competition.
However, the team’s training is without their three key players, Clatous Chama, Saido Ntibazonkiza and goalkeeper Aishi Manula. Manula nurses injuries while Chama and Ntibazonkiza are expected to join the team’s training this Thursday.
As for Zwane, who has so far scored 17 goals in all competitions, he has been suspended due to bookings with three yellow cards. Yanga will host Mamelodi Sundowns this Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 9pm East African time.
The South African player was booked twice in the match against DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and later against Egypt’s Pyramids FC. Zwane has been in top form in both his club and the national team, scoring 17 goals for Mamelodi Sundowns and nine goals for South Africa’s national team (Bafana Bafana). This also a morale booster for Yanga, who will be searching for history in order to qualify for the competition’s semifinal for the first time in their history.
Yanga have been training without their key players namely Pacome Zouzoua, Kennedy Musonda, Stephane Aziz Ki, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Aboutwalib Mshery and first choice goalkeeper Djiguo Diara.
The players are out of the team due to their national teams’ assignments, but are expected to join the team tomorrow or Thursday ahead of the eagerly-awaited match.
Yanga right back Kouassi Yao faces uncertainty to feature in the match due to injury that has forced him to rest for two days and today the team’s doctors will determine his fate.
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