Azam FC right-back Nicolas Wadada is confident that his side has enough firepower to knock out Tanzanian champions Simba SC and retain their Tanzania FA Cup crown.
Tanzania Cup defending champions Azam take on Simba in the first of the Tanzanian Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday evening at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, and according to Wadada, the goal is to retain their crown.
“The team is set, we have prepared well as a team and the mood is quite good. It is a quarter-final and remember we also want to end the season on a high by winning a trophy,” he told Football256.
Wadada has been in blistering form this season for Azam, and while a 2-2 draw in their last league game mathematically confirmed Simba as the winners of the 2019/20 Tanzanian League, the former Vipers SC captain is positive that regardless they remain in high spirits to finish the season on a high.
“We are the defending champions of this trophy and the team is in high spirits and regardless (of the outcome of the league) we are confident of our chances.”
“We have what it takes to knock them and just like we did last season march on and win the FA cup,” he added.
The last time Simba and Azam met in the Tanzanian Cup was in 2017. Simba eliminating their opponents 1-0 in the semi-finals and then going on to lift the trophy beating Mwanza’s Mbao FC in the finals.
Simba captain John Bocco, meanwhile, said they are aware of the threat posed by their opponents but stated they are ready to fight as they still target the double.
“All players are ready for the game which will be difficult but our plans are making sure we win and reach semi-finals,” Bocco told the club’s media.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two this season, and its Simba who have the edge over their rivals winning all three of the previous games.
Simba was 4-2 victors over Azam and Wadada in the season curtain-raiser the Community Shield and managed to edge Azam over both legs in the league 1-0 and 3-2.
Tanzania FA Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures:
Namungo FC vs. Alliance FC
Sahare All-Star vs. Ndanda FC
Simba SC vs. Azam FC
Young Africans SC vs. Kagera Sugar FC
