CAF Champions League: Simba eliminate Plateau United to advance
Simba SC Coach Sven Vandenbroeck giving out instruction to a reserve player in Jos,CREDIT IMAGE:Eagle Eye News Media
By Our Editor/Kiplagat Sang
Nigerian professional league champions Plateau United of Jos have been eliminated from this year’s CAF Champions League Competition.
Tanzanian champions Simba SC progressed to the first round of the Caf Champions League despite a 0-0 draw against Plateau United on Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Simba advance after scoring a goal in the first encounter courtesy of Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama on November 29 in Jos.
Coach Sven Vandenbroeck deployed a rather defensive line-up against the Peace Boys as John Bocco, Chama, and Luis Miquissone were the only outright attacking players.
With Joash Onyango unavailable, Erasto Nyoni was recalled into the starting XI as he has been missing in the league matches with the Kenyan international being the preferred choice since his arrival.
Nyoni was lucky to keep the Nigerian outfit at bay alongside Serge Wawa who he had established an almost impervious partnership at the back before the arrival of Onyango.
With Gerson Fraga out with a long-term injury, Muzamiru Yassin was preferred to Said Ndemla in midfield which also boasted of an ever-present Jonas Mkude as well as Hassan Dilunga.
Meddie Kagere, who is in the race of getting back to full fitness, started on the bench alongside attacking duo of Francis Kahata and Bernard Morrison.
With a packed midfield, Simba failed to launch a direct attack in the entire first half but chose to play the ball wide. They had zero shots on target although they had more time on the ball than their rivals from Jos City. The script was largely repeated in the second half.
Overcoming the Plateau United hurdle should be a huge sigh of relief for Wekundu wa Msimbazi who faltered at the preliminary stage last season against UD Songo of Mozambique.
Simba will now face either Costa do Sol of Mozambique or Zimbabwe’s FC Platinum in the first round.
Recall that EAGLE EYE WATCH reported that a player from Simba SC,Pascal Awawa told our reporter that they are going to consolidate their 1st leg victory in the return leg fixture in Tanzania by ensuring they qualify for the next round.
