Simba secure CAF Champions League berth as Ahoua nets hat trick
What you need to know:
- Beyond securing CAF Champions League qualification, the match also marked an individual milestone for Ahoua, who now leads the Golden Boot race with 15 goals.
Dar es Salaam. Simba Sports Club have officially booked their spot in the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League following an emphatic 5-1 triumph over Pamba Jiji FC in the ongoing Tanzania Mainland Premier League.
The commanding victory, recorded today, May 8, 2025 at the KMC Complex, further cemented Simba’s position as one of the nation’s football giants and ensured their place among the continent’s elite next season.
With this result, Simba join their traditional rivals, Young Africans (Yanga), who had already secured qualification for the CAF Champions League earlier this season.
Both teams have now mathematically guaranteed top-two finishes, as the points they have accumulated are out of reach for the remaining 14 teams in the league.
The match was a one-sided affair, dominated by a brilliant performance from Ivorian attacking midfielder Jean Charles Ahoua, who scored a sensational hat trick.
He opened the scoring in the 15th minute from the penalty spot after Joshua Mutale was fouled inside the area.
Referee Shomari Lawi pointed to the spot without hesitation, and Ahoua calmly converted.
He added his second in the 36th minute with a perfectly struck free kick from just outside the box, curling the ball beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
The Ivorian completed his hat trick just two minutes into the second half, heading home a well-delivered cross from Ellie Mpanzu.
Simba’s dominance didn’t stop there. Leonel Ateba added two more goals in quick succession, scoring in the 79th and 84th minutes to bring his league tally to 12 goals for the season.
Pamba Jiji FC managed to pull one back in the 86th minute through Mathew Momanyi, but it was merely a consolation in a match Simba thoroughly controlled.
Beyond securing CAF Champions League qualification, the match also marked an individual milestone for Ahoua, who now leads the Golden Boot race with 15 goals.
He is closely followed by Yanga’s Clement Mzize with 13 goals, while Prince Dube, also of Yanga, sits on 12 goals.
The result also helped Simba close the gap on league leaders Yanga.
The Msimbazi Street giants now have 66 points from 25 matches, just four points behind Yanga, who lead with 70 points from 26 games.
With the season entering its final stretch, the title race remains very much alive, promising an exciting climax for fans of both sides. Simba’s next fixture is against KMC this Sunday at the same venue.
