Esperance Rally From Two Down to Hold Simba in Dar es Salaam Thriller

Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis strengthened their push for a place in the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League after fighting back from two goals down to earn a dramatic 2–2 draw with Tanzania’s Simba SC in a pulsating Group D encounter in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

The visitors looked destined for defeat at the KMC Stadium following a dominant first-half performance from the hosts. Still, a transformed display after the interval enabled Esperance to claw their way back and depart with a valuable point.

Simba, roared on by their home support, imposed themselves early and were rewarded in the 39th minute when Shomari Kapombe headed home after sustained pressure had pinned Esperance deep inside their own half.

The Tanzanian side doubled their advantage just before the break. Yusuph Kagoma completed a swift attacking move in the 45th minute, exploiting space behind the Esperance defence to give Simba a commanding 2–0 lead at half-time and apparent control of the contest.

Esperance returned from the interval with renewed urgency, increasing the tempo and asserting greater control of possession. Their persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Aboubacar Diakité reduced the deficit, converting from close range to inject belief into the Tunisian camp.

Simba struggled to rediscover their earlier rhythm as the pressure mounted, and Esperance’s dominance was rewarded again in the 79th minute when Kouceila Boualia struck the equaliser, capping an impressive second-half revival and silencing the home crowd.

The visitors nearly completed a remarkable turnaround in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty. However, Hamza Jlassi failed to convert, his miss denying Esperance a dramatic late victory.

The draw leaves Esperance second in Group D on six points, two behind leaders Stade Malien, as the race for qualification intensifies at the halfway stage of the group phase. For Simba, the result delivered their first point of the campaign but did little to lift them from the bottom of the standings, leaving their hopes of progression hanging by a thread with two matches remaining.

As the margins for qualification continue to narrow, Esperance’s resilience in Dar es Salaam may yet prove decisive as Group D heads toward its final rounds.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H