With CAF having rejected all stadiums in Equatorial Guinea, FC 15 de Agosto host Simba SC in Dar es Salaam this Wednesday, 21 October 2026, behind closed doors. Coach Steve Barker and his players therefore play their first leg at home, without their supporters.
The first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round between FC 15 de Agosto and Simba SC is being played this Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The Equatorial Guinean club, deprived of its facilities, chose to relocate its first leg to the home ground of its Tanzanian opponent.
CAF rejected all stadiums in Equatorial Guinea for failing to meet continental homologation standards, according to SuperSport. It is at Simba SC, in Dar es Salaam, that the Akonibé side has set up camp. Simba SC’s local supporters are barred from Uhuru Stadium in their own city for this first leg, SuperSport reports. The match is being played strictly behind closed doors, at the express request of the Equatorial Guinean club.
A closed-doors match requested by 15 de Agosto
Ahmed Ally, communications manager and spokesperson for Simba SC, confirmed the information to KickOff: “The official information is that both matches against 15 de Agosto will be played on Tanzanian soil. During our preliminary discussions, their representatives asked that the match where they are the hosts be played without spectators.” The Equatorial Guinean club therefore requested that this first leg be played behind closed doors.
Kick-off has been scheduled for 07:00 GMT this 21 October 2026, according to Foot Africa. The CAF Champions League second preliminary round runs from 16 to 25 October 2026, according to Sport News Africa.
Simba SC looking to take an option
For Simba SC, the stakes are high: the Tanzanian club is playing the preliminary rounds to secure qualification for the group stage of the 2026-2027 African Champions League, Sport News Africa reports. South African Steve Barker is in charge of the team for this African campaign. He will have to deal with a particular context: playing at home, but without the backing of his public for this first leg.
The Dar es Salaam club is aiming for a place in the group stage. This closed-doors first leg, on its own pitch, represents an opportunity to take an advantage before the return. But Barker’s players will have to put the absence of their supporters out of their minds.
A return leg with fans
The return leg is scheduled at the same Dar es Salaam venue on Sunday, 25 October 2026, with fans this time, according to Footafrica.net. Simba SC’s supporters will therefore be able to back their team at Uhuru Stadium.
The first leg will therefore be the only one of the two matches played behind closed doors.