Dar es Salaam. Simba SC have left themselves in a precarious position in the CAF Champions League after being held to a 2-2 draw by Tunisia’s Esperance on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Despite dominating the first half and going 2-0 ahead, Simba failed to maintain their advantage as defensive lapses in the second half allowed Esperance to fight back, leaving fans and the team concerned about their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals.
The match saw Simba make three changes to their starting lineup compared to the previous fixture in Tunisia.
Head coach Steve Barker handed debuts to the January signings Libasse Gueye, Anicet Oura and Clatous Chama.
Kibu Denis was given the role of leading the attack, replacing Jonathan Sowah, who had operated from the wing in Tunisia.
The game started at a high tempo, with both sides exchanging attacks in the opening 30 minutes.
Esperance initially sought to absorb pressure and hit Simba on the break.
From the final 15 minutes of the first half, Simba increased the intensity, exploiting the flanks, with Oura and Gueye proving constant threats.
Their efforts bore fruit in the 39th minute when Shomary Kapombe headed home from a scramble in the box.
Six minutes later, Yusuph Kagoma doubled the lead with a downward header following excellent work from Chama, sending Simba into the break 2-0 ahead.
First-half statistics highlighted Simba’s dominance, with 61 percent possession compared to Esperance’s 39 percent, alongside multiple clear-cut chances.
Simba had six shots on target to Esperance’s four, creating three big chances versus one for the visitors.
The second half saw a renewed Esperance side seeking to claw back into the game.
Diakité scored in the 64th minute after sustained pressure, and Boualia levelled the scores in the 79th minute with a well-taken strike that beat Kassali.
Barker responded with three substitutions in the 74th minute, bringing on Seleman Mwalimu, Morice Abraham and Ellie Mpanzu, but Simba’s defensive structure faltered, leaving gaps for Esperance to exploit.
Esperance even missed a penalty late in the game, and the match ended 2-2.
The draw leaves Simba in a difficult position in the group stage, with much work to do in the remaining fixtures if they are to keep their quarter-final ambitions alive.
Simba SC: Kassali; Kante, Kapombe (C), Oura, Kagoma; De Reuck, Chama, Gueye; Nangu, Kibabage, Kibu. (Subs: Abel, Duchu, Sowah, Toure, Naby, Morice, Mwalimu, Loemba, Mpanzu).
Esperance Sportive de Tunis: Ben Said; Keita, Laifi, Jelassi, B. Hmida (C), Konaté, Onuche, Tka; Yan Sasse, Diakité, Diarra. (Subs: Mechiche, Guemichi, Florent, Msakni, Rafa, Kouceila, Jebali, Jabri).
