CAFCC: ‘It’s not over’ – Davids warns Al Masry ahead of Simba SC return leg

Photo Credit - Simba SC Tanzania.

Despite losing 0-2 to Al Masry in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup, Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids has remained confident in his squad, insisting they will overturn the result when the two sides meet in the return leg.

During the first leg at New Suerz Stadium in Ismailia, the hosts capitalised in the 16th minute through Abderrahim Deghmoum to take a deserved lead before Nigerian striker John Ebuka punished Simba’s wastefulness with a late strike in the 89th minute, securing a two-goal cushion heading into the return leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

“It’s not over. We believe. We want our fans to believe. We want our fans to come there behind us. If we execute our game plan for 90 minutes, we stand a very good chance of qualifying,” declared the South African coach as quoted by the Guardian.

“We still have a chance, but we need the fans behind us. I feel for them. Very disappointed with the result. But I’m sure they’re proud of the performance. I’m 100% confident. I still believe in these players. I know they will learn. I know they will improve.”

On the first leg defeat, he said: “It’s very painful to see the players after a match like this. But with a young team, the only way to learn is to sometimes get a hit over the head. And that’s what they got today. That’s the time where you grow.”