Simba's Benchikha confident of Champions League quarterfinal progress

The Tanzanian representatives are second in Group B, one point ahead of Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy while Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club are rock bottom with three points.

Ahead of their crucial encounter with ASEC Mimosas on Friday, Benchikha is confident Simba can get the needed results to secure a place in the last eight of the CAF Champions League.

“It is a big match, very important for us. ASEC Mimosas is top of our group, we must have a good result to qualify for the quarter-finals. We must play, we have a chance and we are ready. All the players are ready for the big match.

“We will play without pressure. We will play our football. We must be strong for our fans, Simba has a lot of fans all over Tanzania. They trust us so we must give them the pleasure of a good result.

“Qualification to the quarter-finals is our target. We must qualify for the quarters, it is our target. We will play a good game, and we must concentrate on our work,” he said.

Benchikha also revealed they will continue missing the service of Willy Onana, who is out with an injury, while Moroccan goalkeeper Ayoub Lakhred is suspended for the game.

“We have Onana out with an injury. Dennis Kibu is also a doubt, but we have two or three days to work on his fitness. Ayoub is suspended but there is Aishi Manula. We trust him as a national team goalkeeper,” said the gaffer.

On Friday, Simba will take on hosts ASEC Mimosas at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

A victory or draw against an already qualified ASEC Mimosas side will put them in pole position to grab the remaining group ticket ahead of Jwaneng Galaxy and Wydad.

Simba opened their CAF Champions League group campaign on a disappointing note following a 1-1 draw with ASEC Mimosas at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in November.

They suffered another setback on matchday two when they failed to claim all three points in the goalless away draw with Jwaneng Galaxy in Gaborone.

A harsh last-minute goal condemned them to a 1-0 loss in Casablanca against Wydad as they remained winless and bottom of Group B after three games.

They resurrected their qualification hopes with an impressive 2-0 win against Wydad at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on match day four.

After the West African trip, Simba will quickly regroup for the final CAF Champions League Group Stage game against Jwaneng Galaxy at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday, 2 March (19:00 EAT).