Hassan targets good show against Simba

Egyptian side, El Masry have set sights on yet another step in their journey to the group stage, when they face Tanzanian giants Simba on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam.

Having defeated Zambia's Green Buffaloes 5-2 on aggregate at the preliminary round, Masry moves to the 1/16th round in great confidence. Led by legendary Hossam Hassan, who tasted continental glory with Cairo giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, the Green Eagles (as they are fondly called by their supporters) will try to survive against seasonal campaigners Simba.

Hassan, 52, commended his side after the seemingly easy preliminary round victory.

“We thoroughly deserved to win against Green Buffaloes,” he told reporters moments before his side departed for the Tanzanian capital.

“My players have a good level of experience, and this will help us going forward in the competition. This stage is going to be more difficult and we have to be ready for that,” he added.

Just as the prelims, Hassan will be banking on his Burkina Faso trio. Defender Mohamed Koffi, strikers Issouf Ouattara and veteran Aristide Bance are all influential in Masry's line-up this season, complementing the efforts of the likes of left back Mohamed Hamdy, playmaker Islam Eissa and striker Ahmed Gomaa.

“We respect Simba, and will do our best against them. I believe we can qualify to the next round,” concluded Hassan.

The return leg will take place in Port Said, about 200-kilometres from the Egyptian capital, Cairo on 17 March 2017, with the aggregate winner qualifying to the 2nd 1/18^th round.

Fixtures

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Supersport (South Africa)

Motema Pembe (DR Congo) vs Deportivo Niefang (Equatorial Guinea)

CS La Mancha (Congo) vs Ahly Shandy (Sudan)

CR Belouizdad (Algeria) vs Nkana (Zambia)

RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Club Africaine (Tunisia)

Raja Club Athletic (Morocco) vs Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

Costa Do Sol (Mozambique) vs Cape Town (South Africa)

Energie (Benin) vs Enyimba (Nigeria)

Djoliba (Mali) vs APR (Rwanda)

Port Louis (Mauritius) vs FOSA Junior (Madagascar)

AS Maniema (DR Congo) vs USM Alger (Algeria)

Olympic (Burundi) vs Hilal Obied (Sudan)

Al Ittihad (Libya) vs Akwa United (Nigeria)

CARA (Congo) vs US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia)

Simba (Tanzania) vs El Masry (Egypt)

Wolaitta Dicha (Ethiopia) vs Zamalek (Egypt)