- This is the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League
- Winners will earn tickets to the group stages
- Losers will play the play-off round in the CAF Confederation Cup
East African sides Simba, Yanga and Vipers will look to earn slots in the group phases of the CAF Champions League when the first leg matches of the second preliminary round are played this weekend.
Winners over the two legs of this round will qualify for the group stages, which has a cash reward of close to Sh35mn while losers will drop to the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Yanga up against Hilal
Yanga during a training session
Tanzanian league champions will be up against Sudanese side Al Hilal in what will be one of the matches to watch in thus round. The two CECAFA neighbors will start off with the first leg in Dar es Salaam this weekend.
Tanzania’s Yanga were imperious in their first round tie when they walloped Zalan Rumbek of South Sudan 9-0, where their star player Fiston Mayele scored back to back hatricks.
They come up against Hilal, coached by revered Congolese tactician Florent Ibenge, who led Morocco’s RS Berkane to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title last season.
Hilal earned a slot in the second round after edging out Ethiopia’s St. George on the away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Yanga coach Nasreddine Nabbi says they are ready for a tough battle.
“It will not be easy against Hilal because they are a tough side. But we have prepared well and ready to battle and get a place in the group stages,” said the Tunisian coach.
Yanga have not reached the group phases of the competition since 1998 when the format was an eight team stage. And now, they will look to quench that thirst.
Simba travel up to Angola
Simba SC during a training session
Meanwhile, their arch rivals Simba will be out in Angola, taking on Primero de Agosto.
Angola’s Primero de Agosto, semi-finalists in 2018, will look to make the most of their first match being played at home and start well.
Primero return to the Champions League for the first time since 2019 and are keen to make an impact. They progressed to this round after edging out Zambia’s Red Arros 2-1 on aggregate.
Having missed out on the group stages last season after a shocking loss to Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, Wekundu Wa Msimbazi will not be risking any mistakes this time round. Domestically they have been in good firm, winning four of their first five games of the season in the Tanzanian Premier League.
They progressed to this round after beating Malawi’s Nyasa Big Bullets 4-0 on aggregate.
“We know that we are up against an equally good side and we have prepared for that. We don’t want to repeat the same mistakes we had last season and we need to be at our best. We are starting away from home and if we can keep a clean sheet, then we are in for a good run,” said Juma Mgunda, the Simba coach.
Simba will be without defender Shomari Kapombe who is still nursning injury while they have received a boost with the return of Sadio Kanoute.
Vipers host Mazembe at St Mary’s
Vipers SC during a training session
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Vipers SC will be at home in Kitende where they will take on Congolese giants TP Mazembe.
Vipers earned a ticket to this round after edging out Central Africa Republic’s Olympic real de Bangui 4-0 in the first preliminary round while Mazembe are starting the competition at this stage after being given a bye for the first round due to their ranking.
The Ugandan champions are hoping for home fabours against the highly talented Mazembe and winning the first leg in Kitende will be massive for them.
They will once again be relying on the prowess of star striker Yunus Sentamu and new signing Abdu Lumala who showed glimpses of what they can do in the first two rounds.
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