Uganda Cranes striker Steven Mukwala and his Simba SC teammates have safely negotiated their way into the second round of the CAF Champions League preliminaries after seeing off Botswana’s Gaborone United.
The Tanzanian giants had done the heavy lifting in the first leg, snatching a 1-0 victory away from home courtesy of Elie Mpanzu’s decisive strike. That slender advantage set the stage for a charged return fixture in Dar es Salaam.
Inside a packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the hosts strengthened their grip on the tie just before halftime when Jean Charles Ahoua coolly dispatched a penalty in the 43rd minute. But Gaborone United refused to roll over, and they restored parity shortly after the restart. Lebogang Ditsele stepped up in the 56th minute to slot home from the spot, igniting a tense second half.
Despite the visitors’ persistence, Simba managed the remaining minutes with composure, leaning on their experience to see out the contest. The 1-1 draw on the day was enough for a 2-1 aggregate triumph, ensuring the “Msimbazi Reds” remain in the hunt for continental glory.
Wapinzani wetu wa hatua inayofata ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika ni Nsingizini Hotspurs ya nchini Eswatini. #NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/LLEeKDNEPl
— Simba Sports Club (@SimbaSCTanzania) September 29, 2025
Their next hurdle will be Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs, with the opening leg set for October 17 away from home.
Mukwala and his colleagues will head into the tie determined to extend their campaign deeper into Africa’s premier club competition, carrying both belief and momentum.
