Nomads focus on CAF tie after Airtel Top 8 loss

Mighty Wanderers say they have put aside their 1-2 Airtel Top 8 final defeat to Ekhaya FC and have shifted their focus to Sunday’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League first preliminary round first leg against Simba Sports Club (SC).

The Nomads host the Dar es Salaam-based side in the continental elite club tourney this Sunday at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe, exactly a week after they were stunned by The Cowboys at the same venue.

But in an interview yesterday, Wanderers director of football David Kanyenda said they have picked themselves up for Sunday’s showdown.

He said: “Painful as it was, we have to move on and switch our attention to the upcoming big assignment and we hopel bounce back stronger.

“The team is fully locked in and gearing up for the crucil first leg match.

“In order to keep the players focused, high-intensity preparations are underway to ensure that the squad is physically, mentally and tactically ready to deliver a massive performance.”

He said the Nomads will depart for the capital city today to step up their preparations.

The Lali Lubani Road outfit has set the hype for the match by announcing that entry tickets will hit the market today.

The standard ticket is at K5 000, a set in the VIP will cost K25 000, corporate box is at K300 000 while car pass is at K10 000.

According to a statement released by the club, the tickets will be on sale at Wanderers Club in Chichiri, Blantyre while in Lilongwe they will be sold at BNS, Area 18 Puma, Kafoteka, Walkers Total (Pathanki), Area 23 Puma, Kawale Engen, Maula Puma, City Centre Puma and Likuni Engen service stations.

They will also be available at Acres Bar at the Gateway Mall, Chipiku Area 25, Mpira M’mudzi Mwathu corporate boxes (BNS) and Blue Waves City Centre.

Meanwhile, panafrican football.com reports that a group of Simba SC supporters are expected to depart Tanzania tomorrow for Lilongwe to cheer their team.

The publication quotes the club’s spokesperson Ahmed Ally as having said: “We have organised a supporters’ bus to Malawi.

“We will travel to Malawi with many supporters and break the record for the number of fans travelling with the team.”

He said their team is expected to fly into the country on Friday through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.

Ally said Simba are determined to make a strong start to their continental campaign after falling short of their ambitions in last season’s CAF competition and they have since strengthened theur squad with experienced players and are targeting a deeper run this time around.

Simba SC failed to progress to the quarter-finals last season, a result Ally described as a major setback for a team with high ambitions.

“Last year has passed. We conducted a thorough analysis and signed big players with significant experience. Our belief is that this year, we will progress beyond the group stage and reach the quarter-finals,” he was quoted as having said.

Ally added that Simba’s ultimate target is to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, insisting that the quality of their current squad gives the club confidence that the ambitious objective can be achieved.

The return leg is scheduled for Dar es Salaam on September 11.