Tanzania Premier League giants Simba SC were held to a 1-1 draw by ASEC Mimosas in a tough CAF Champions League group opener at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Saidi Ntibazonkiza put the Wekundu wa Msimbazi ahead through a spot kick awarded in the closing stages of the first half. In the last stanza, substitute Serge Pokou leveled the deficit with a clinical finish. As expected, the hosts who had the backing of a highly vocal crowd wasted no time in applying the pressure to get the early lead.
After doing well to contain the hosts, a lapse in concentration by the visitors saw them concede a penalty towards the dying moments of the first half for Ntibazonkiza to step up and give his side the lead from the spot-kick in the 44th minute. Coming back from the break, Simba came out even stronger as they pushed forward for the cushion goal against the former champions.
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However, it was not meant to be for the East Africans as the Ivorians showed maturity in defence and not buckling under pressure. Mimosas, in their containing the pressure did well in attack towards the closing stages and were rewarded in the 77th minute when Serge Pokou found the leveler to take a valuable point away from home in a highly competitive encounter.
Up next, Simba will travel to play Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana next Saturday.