CAFCL: Simba SC take control after first leg win in Eswatini

Tanzania’s Simba SC held off a brave effort from hosts Nsingizini Hotspurs and took their chances well in Eswatini for a 3-0 first leg victory in the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) second round on Sunday.

Hosts Nsingizini were eager to impress on a big stage and came out with an inspired first half effort. However, after nearly holding the favorites scoreless for the opening 45 minutes, poor marking on a corner kick allowed Wilson Nangu to give the visitors the breakthrough by nodding in a corner kick service from Neo Maema at the end of first half stoppage time.

It was more of the same in the second half. An even effort saw the hosts lose their focus at the end of the match after a buildup of frustration. Simba’s stars pushed them to double their advantage in the 84th minute when an attack down the right wing ended with a clever pass from Jonathan Sowah to Kibu Denis, who fired his finish into the top corner.

Late on, Nsingizini’s attempts to push forward resulted in a death blow from the visitors when a deadly counter-attack left Kibu with a 1-v-1 situation and the Tanzania national team attacker produced a calm finish to make it 3-0.

The two teams will meet again for the second leg next Sunday in Dar es Salaam, where the Tanzania Mainland Premier League runners-up are widely expected to finish the job and clinch a place in the group stage.