Simba SC took a slender step towards the CAF Confederation Cup final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC in the first leg of the semifinal played at the vibrant New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news The Tanzanian giants entered the contest full of belief after dispatching Egyptian side Al Masry in the quarters, while Stellenbosch came in riding high after pulling off a shock by eliminating continental powerhouse Zamalek SC. With both sides chasing history, the semifinal promised fireworks—and it delivered.’I didn’t find myself on the team list’ – Enock Morrison after missing Gor Mahia’s matchFrom the first whistle, Simba looked to impose themselves. Playing in front of a lively ‘home’ crowd, they embraced the responsibility to dominate, while Stellenbosch opted to sit back and look for opportunities on the counter.David Fadlu’s plan was clear: win the midfield battle and control the rhythm of the game. He deployed his side in a base 4-2-3-1, but in reality, Simba’s shape constantly morphed into a compact 4-2-2-2, forming a box midfield that gave them the upper hand centrally.##NAJAVA_MECA_8877179##The midfield quartet of Kagoma, Ngoma, Kibu Denis, and Jean Charles Ahoua were at the heart of everything. Kagoma and Ngoma anchored the base, while Kibu and Ahoua—playing as floating “double 10s”—found space between Stellenbosch’s lines, causing all sorts of problems for Steve Barker’s setup.Kibu, in particular, was electric. His ability to receive the ball under pressure, turn quickly, and explode forward added dynamism to Simba’s attacks. In the 37th minute, he spun brilliantly in the half-space before drawing a dangerous foul just outside the box. His stats told the story—four successful dribbles, two key passes, and a big chance created.Gor Mahia announce landmark change in ticketing ahead of FC Talanta clashBut it was Jean Charles Ahoua who stole the show. Calm, clever, and constantly in motion, he was a nightmare to contain. The Ivorian racked up eight key passes, drew four fouls in the final third, and most importantly, scored the match-winner, capping a performance that made him the standout on the night.While Simba’s midfield buzzed, it was Ellie Mpanzu who brought the tactical fluidity. Though listed as a forward, he often dropped deep to form overloads in midfield, creating 5v4 scenarios that Stellenbosch struggled to cope with. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8877117##It was not all smooth sailing—Mpanzu’s tendency to operate in larger spaces saw him lose possession 14 times—but he still found ways to influence the match, creating two big chances in the process.Simba’s attacking fullbacks were also key to Fadlu’s system. Shomari Kapombe and Mohamed Husseini pushed high up the pitch, providing the width that allowed the “double 10s” and wide forwards to tuck inside. David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng on what Kenya Police must do to win FKFPL titleKapombe alone had three shots—all from inside the box—highlighting how involved the fullbacks were in Simba’s offensive scheme.In the end, Simba’s win was built on intelligent structure, midfield dominance, and positional fluidity. Fadlu’s tactics were spot on—use a box midfield to control possession, drop a forward to create overloads, and rely on fullbacks for width. It was a plan that gave them control, even if the final score did not fully reflect their performance.##NAJAVA_MECA_8868092##Still, with a slim 1-0 lead, the job is only half done. Simba will now travel to South Africa knowing they need another sharp, disciplined performance to finish the job and book their ticket to the final. But if this first leg was anything to go by, the Wekundu wa Msimbazi have the tools—and the tactical smarts—to get it done.
