Simba Sports Club will be out to record arguably the best second-leg turnaround in recent history of the competition when they play host to Kaizer Chiefs at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 15h00 CAT.
The Tanzanian giants lost 4-0 to the South African side in the first-leg quarterfinal clash in Johannesburg last week, and will need nothing but a miracle if they are to book their place in the final four as the expense of the Amakhosi.
Erick Mathoho, Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro condemned the Msimbazi Reds to a defeat at FNB Stadium.
Simba have previously overrun a 4-0 deficit when this competition was known as Africa Cup of Champions Clubsand would be confident of doing that again.
The Msimbazi Reds lost 4-0 away at Mufulira Wanderers in Zambia in the 1979 first round, first leg but turned the tables with a 5-0 victory in the home leg to progress to the second round.
“I don’t know, anything can happen in football,” said a dejected Simba head coach Didier Gomes following their defeat in Soweto. “For sure, we are very disappointed, but we are alive, and we are breathing, and when you breathe, you have hopes, so we keep our minds on that.
Despite their advantage, Kaizer Chiefs coach Garvin Hunt has emphasised that the Amakhosi will not be resting on their laurels in the Tanzanian port city.
“What’s past is past, we can only affect what’s in front of us, which is the game tomorrow (Saturday). We have to concentrate on starting the game afresh and playing as if it is 0-0 and trying to get a result here,” Hunt said.
“I have been here before. I had a bad experience in 2015 when we defeated Royal Leopards 3-0 in the first leg and lost the second 3-0 and went out on penalties. We must be aware, that’s why I say it is 0-0.
“We have to try and do the same again tomorrow, try and score a goal because away goals count double. I think that’s important. Tomorrow (Saturday) is a new game, forget about the last game, let’s start 0-0 and let’s play for a result.”
The aggregate winner will face either Mouloudia Club d’Alger or Wydad Casablanca for a place in this year’s final.
