DESPITE Al Masry's 2-0 victory over Simba SC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, head coach Anis Boujelbene insists that the Tanzanian giants remain formidable contenders and the tie is far from over.

Goals from Abderrahim Deghmoum and John Ebuka gave the Egyptian side a valuable advantage heading into the second leg in Dar es Salaam—on a ground where Simba have enjoyed a formidable home record in recent years.

The decisive return leg will take place on Wednesday, April 9, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, where Simba will host Al Masry for a spot in the tournament’s semifinals.

Simba reached the quarterfinals in dominant fashion, finishing top of Group A with 13 points from four wins, one draw, and one loss. They edged Algeria’s CS Constantine (12 points), Angola’s Bravos do Maquis (7), and Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien (3).

This tie carries added weight for Simba, as Al Masry knocked them out of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup first round on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw. 

Now, Simba have a chance to rewrite that history and secure their first-ever semifinal berth in the competition.

Al Masry, on the other hand, currently sit fourth in the Egyptian Premier League with 31 points from 14 matches (8 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses). They have scored 19 goals and conceded 11.

Despite the advantage, Boujelbene (pictured) is wary of the challenge that awaits in Dar es Salaam.

“I congratulate the fans of Al Masry on the victory, but qualification is not secured yet,” Boujelbene was quoted saying after the match. 

“It was an extremely difficult game against a strong and resilient opponent. We exerted a big physical effort, and our substitutions were aimed at preserving the result. The fans played a major role in this win.”

Looking ahead to the second leg, the Tunisian tactician expressed concerns over fixture congestion:

“The return leg has completely different considerations, and we are preparing for it carefully. I’m particularly concerned because we have a domestic match against Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egypt Capital Cup just two days before facing Simba,” he said.

Simba last reached the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals in the 2021/22 season, where they were eliminated by South Africa's Orlando Pirates on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

This time, with home advantage and history driving them, the Msimbazi Reds will be aiming for a comeback that sends them into uncharted territory.