The “Wekundu wa Msimbazi” are staring into the abyss. Following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tunisian titans Esperance de Tunis on Saturday evening, Simba SC has now recorded three consecutive losses in the CAF Champions League group stage—a historic low for the club.
With zero points from a possible nine, the Tanzanian giants are rooted to the bottom of Group D, and their once-bright continental dreams are now flickering on life support.
Despite flashes of the tactical fluidity often associated with the Msimbazi side, Simba’s campaign has been defined by a glaring lack of a clinical edge.
Against Esperance, the absence of a “killer” in the final third was evident, as they failed to capitalize on moments of dominance. At the other end, a 21st-minute strike from Burkinabe sensation Jack Diarra was enough to punish a vulnerable Simba defense.
The statistics tell a grim story: three games played, zero points, and only one goal scored. For a team that has consistently reached the quarterfinals since 2018, this current form is a “continental nightmare.”
The heat is now firmly on the newly appointed head coach, Steve Barker. Having taken over in December with the goal of stabilizing the ship, the South African tactician finds himself in a race against time.
Sources close to the board indicate that “emergency meetings” are already being held in Dar es Salaam. The management is reportedly deeply concerned that the club’s domestic dominance is failing to translate onto the African stage.
The atmosphere following the final whistle at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium was somber. Senior players and veterans were seen visibly shaken as they headed to the team bus. “It’s hard to explain,” one veteran player noted briefly. “We prepare, we fight, but at this level, if you don’t take your chances, you get punished. We owe our fans an apology and, more importantly, a reaction.”
Mathematically, Simba is not out yet, but they no longer control their own destiny. To keep the dream alive, they must secure a “perfect” run in their remaining three fixtures—starting with the return leg against Esperance in Dar es Salaam on January 30.
Anything less than a win at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium will likely signal the end of their 2025/26 CAF Champions League journey.
CAF CL Group D Standings (Matchday 3)
1 Esperance Tunis 5 Points
2 Petro de Luanda 4 points
3 Stade Malien 4 points
4 Simba SC 0 points