CAF CL: It's do or die for Robertinho and Simba

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FOOTBALL CAF CL: It's do or die for Robertinho and Simba

Festus Chuma 06:10 - 28.04.2023

In spite of the hostility which awaits Msimbazi Reds in Casablanca, the Brazilian coach is confident ahead of the weekend's crunch encounter

Tanzanian giants, Simba SC will face Wydad Casablanca at the tricky Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Friday in the second leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal.

The big question, however, remains whether Brazilian gaffer Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo alias Robertinho can show his tactical acumen to mastermind an away win.

Simba go into the clash looking to defend their slender 1-0 advantage, courtesy of a first-half Jean Baleke strike. But despite Simba's favorable position, the East Africans are not taking their trip to North Africa for granted.

"We have to give everything we have. This is the last match of the quarterfinal. You win, you are in the semifinals, and you lose, then you are out," Robertinho was quoted by Le 360 as saying.

"It's going to be a fight there. We know their mentality. They will come to your bench and provoke you. They will also burn things.

"That's their culture, mentality, and belief when they play at home," he explained.

In-form strikers Denis Kibu and Jean Baleke are expected to play a significant role in pushing Simba for goals.

But the hosts, who finished top of their group that had Congolese giants AS Vita and Angola's Petro de Luanda, are expected to come all out to try and make the home advantage count.

"The opponent imposed themselves on us, and they were strong and deserved victory," Wydad coach Juan Carlos Garrido said in the post-match conference as per SuperSport.

"Now we will turn this page and head forward into the future, and the return match will be completely different from the one we experienced in Tanzania.

"We suffered due to the absences of some players, and with the presence of our fans and our players having recovered, we will snatch the ticket for the semifinals."

The home side will also look to the experience of strikers Hamid Ahadad and Saif-Eddine Bouhra to torment the Simba defenders.

Chadian referee Alhadi Allaou Mahamat will handle the fixture played at the 75,000-capacity Stadium.

If Simba kicks Wydad Casablanca out of the tournament, then it will likely throw the tournament into one of the most interesting editions in recent years.