The atmosphere at the New Suez Stadium crackled with intensity as John Ebuka and his team Al Masry clashed with Simba SC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal.
With the stakes sky-high, the Egyptian side aimed to seize a crucial home victory, but it was Nigerian star John Ebuka who delivered the defining moment of the night, Footballrover reports.
His late-game brilliance left Simba SC reeling, setting up a thrilling return leg next week.
Al Masry stun Simba SC with early dominance
From the opening whistle, Al Masry wasted no time asserting their authority.
It took just 16 minutes for Abderrahim Deghmoum to break the deadlock, unleashing a fierce strike that proved too hot for Simba SC goalkeeper Moussa Camara to handle.
The visitors, stunned but not subdued, fought back through Leonel Ateba and Jean Charles Ahoua, but Al Masry’s shot-stopper Mahmoud Gad stood firm to deny them.
Despite Simba SC’s efforts to claw their way back into the game, Al Masry maintained control, patiently awaiting the perfect moment to double their lead.
That moment arrived in the dying minutes, and it came from a familiar source—John Ebuka.
John Ebuka’s late strike seal crucial win
Coming off the bench in the 78th minute, the 28-year-old forward wasted no time making an impact.
Just 11 minutes after his introduction, he struck gold, delivering his first goal in the tournament and his second of the season for Al Masry.
His precision finish put the game beyond Simba SC’s reach, securing a 2-0 advantage heading into the decisive second leg.
Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids admitted his side had missed opportunities but remained optimistic about turning things around at home.
“The quarterfinal is decided over two legs, and now we must be ready for the home match,” he stated.
With the return fixture set for April 9 at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, the Tanzanian giants will be desperate to overturn the deficit.
Before the exciting rematch, Al Masry will shift focus to domestic duties, facing Ceramica Cleopatra in the Egypt League Cup.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on John Ebuka once more to see if he can rise to the occasion yet again.
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