Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids is anticipating a tough test in their 2024/25 CAF Confederations Cup group stage matches, singling out the North African opponents as his main concern.

The Tanzanian giants were pitted in Group A alongside three-time CAF Confederations Cup winners CS Sfaxien, and two group stage debutants FC Bravos Do Maquis and CS Constantine, who have missed out on CAF Champions League group stages since the 2018/19 season. 

While the South African mentor is aware of the threat posed by the teams in the group, he believes their victory over Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya in the second preliminary round served as a stepping stone for the task that lies ahead of his inexperienced squad. 

“It’s a very tough draw, Angola is a very good team (Bravos) that we have to travel to and of course traveling to North Africa is always difficult, Constantine and CS Sfaxien are two very good sides, so we’ve got our work cut out for us, ” Davids told the club’s media team. 

“But I think the preliminary match against Al Ahli Tripoli has prepared us for North Africa, our players know a little bit of what to expect after gaining that experience. We have an inexperienced squad in terms of CAF competitions. 

“So, the prelim match has helped us, but we’ve got a tough task ahead of us to be able to qualify out of this group.” 

Davids, who lost the CAF Confederations Cup final to RS Berkane as Orlando Pirates co-coach along with Mandla Ncikazi in the 2021/22 season, says the target is to accumulate 10 points in the opening stages, to stand a better chance of progressing to the next phase. 

“Travelling to Constantine in Algeria won’t be easy, we have to go there with a mindset of trying to get something out of the game, we always play every match to win but if you’re not able to win then don’t lose the match. Ten points is a magical number to be able to qualify and our target will be to get those points as quickly as possible, ” he said. 

Despite acknowledging the challenges of playing in North Africa, Davids insists they aim to finish at the summit of the group to avoid facing the big names in the quarterfinals, and says his inexperienced side will bank on the heritage of the club to meet their objectives. 

“It’s back-to-back matches in North Africa, one in Algeria and another in Tunisia, tough teams in their own right, ” said the Simba coach. “So, we have to prepare the team mentally to be able to get through those hurdles. The aim is to finish top of the group to get a second-placed team in the quarterfinals. 

“We have to be at our best to qualify out of this group, we are Simba, we are a big club, but with an inexperienced squad, so we use the heritage of Simba being in this competition at this stage and Champions League before.”