Dar es Salaam. Simba SC’s hopes of mounting a meaningful challenge in this season’s CAF Champions League were effectively extinguished on February 7 after a 1–1 draw against Stade Malien in Angola.
The outcome leaves the Tanzanian champions rooted near the bottom of their group, with just two points from a possible 12, having endured 360 minutes of continental football without a win.
The protracted drought has deepened frustration among supporters and intensified scrutiny of the team’s technical direction and overall competitiveness at the highest level of African club football.
Simba began the match with commendable intent, displaying compact organisation and measured discipline that allowed them to match Stade Malien stride for stride in the early exchanges.
Their structured approach initially restricted the hosts’ attacking freedom and suggested the visitors were determined to salvage pride from a faltering campaign.
However, the balance shifted in the 13th minute when Stade Malien broke the deadlock.
Forward Pinto P. applied a composed finish to a precise assist from Benny, handing the home side a deserved lead and forcing Simba into a more adventurous posture.
In response, Simba pushed men forward and fashioned several promising chances, but a lack of composure in front of goal proved costly.
As they sought to force an equaliser, gaps began to emerge, allowing Stade Malien to grow in confidence and assert greater control of possession.
The contest took a decisive turn in the 40th minute when Simba defender Shomary Kapombe received a second yellow card, following an earlier booking in the 19th minute.
The resulting dismissal left Simba with ten men and compelled coach Abdelhak Benchikha to reorganise his side, introducing Duchi for Abraham at the start of the second half to shore up the defence.
Stade Malien responded by making three substitutions in the 51st minute, injecting fresh attacking impetus as they sought to exploit their numerical advantage.
Simba, meanwhile, adopted a cautious, compact shape, prioritising defensive solidity over attacking ambition.
Sustained pressure from the hosts followed, with Simba increasingly pinned back and struggling to cope with the tempo.
Midfielder Kinito was booked in the 71st minute as the visitors laboured to contain Stade Malien’s advancing waves.
Yet, against the run of play, Simba struck in the 81st minute. Oura calmly converted after being teed up by Mwalimu S., restoring parity and briefly rekindling hope of an improbable late surge.
The equaliser galvanised Simba, who pressed forward in the closing stages in search of a dramatic winner.
However, Stade Malien remained composed and resolute, preserving the draw and ensuring the points were shared.
The stalemate confirmed Simba’s elimination from quarter-final contention, following earlier draws and defeats, including a 2–2 stalemate against Esperance.
With continental ambitions now extinguished, attention will turn to a comprehensive review of the campaign, as the club seeks to address evident shortcomings and rebuild its credentials for future continental challenges.
