Can Ahly pick their first ever win in Dar es Salaam?

• Al Ahly has played twice in Dar es Salaam, losing both games
• They play Simba SC in the African Football League
• Ahly are 11-time African Champions

 Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly will look to clinch their first win over Simba SC in Dar es Salaam on the third time of asking, when they face Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the first leg of the African Football League in the Tanzanian capital.

Ahly have lost by identical 1-0 scores on both occasions they have played in Dar es Salaam, in 2019 and 2021. Head coach Marcel Koller says the team is not worried by the past, but are rather more focused on writing their own history when they meet in the AFL.

“I have been here for one year now and what happened in the past is history. We cannot change that but what we can change is what happens tomorrow and in the future. We will do our best to take a good result from the match tomorrow (Friday) and we are looking forward to a good game and do our best to change the history,” Koller said.

Skipper Mohamed Elshanawy also shares the same sentiments, and adds that for them the most important thing is the result they get over the two legs and not just necessarily what the outcome of the first leg will be.

“In both occasions, when we lost here, we went all the way to the final and in one occasion we won the Cup. So for us, what is important is the 180 minutes, not just the 90 minutes here in Dar es Salaam. We know that this is just one half of the game and we have another half in Cairo,” the 34-year-old goalkeeper said.

Tough duel expected in Dar 

Al Ahly’s Aliou Dieng and Percy Tau in training

Ahly expect a tough duel against Simba, who will enjoy a buzzing 60,000 seater stadium home support, with the tickets already selling out quick.

The Swiss coach admits that Simba has shown its worth with their performances not just locally but on the continent, and believes they will give them a stern test in the AFL opener.

“We know we have a difficult team against us. Every team in Africa, when they play Ahly, they always double their efforts and have a lot of motivation to beat us. We will be fully concentrated and look to play a good game to win and make it easier for the second leg in Cairo,” he noted.

Koller has had barely a full two days to train with a full squad, as majority of his first team stars were out on international duty. He acknowledges that this will be a challenge to him, but reckons they can handle it.

Will do their best to win 

Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Kahraba in training

Captain Elshanawy, one of the players who was with the national team, has been a starter on both occasions that Simba has beaten them, and he admits it will not be an easy outing.

“Simba is a very good team and we have experienced that when we play here. They are playing at home and it will not be an easy game. We have done our best to prepare well and we are ready to try and fight for the win,” the shot stopper stated.

The game will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, kicking off at 6pm on Friday evening.