Simba were unable to maintain their slight hopes of sneaking in to the Champions League semifinals as they lost 4-3 to Asec. The Tanzanians needed to win in Abidjan, and hope Ismailia beat Enyimba, but were unable to fulfil their side of the equation.
Simba got off to an appalling start, as Asec plundered two goals in the first 17 minutes.
Armand Mahan scored after eight minutes, and shortly afterwards Vincent Die doubled Simba's misery.
Simba fought back hard, however.
Captain Boniface Pawasa pulled one back on 52 minutes, and when Yusuf Macho scored on 64, Simba were right back in the game.
However, just two minutes later their qualification hopes were in tatters after Beauregard Mabea restored the Ivorians' lead.
Although Ulimboka Mwakingwe equalled things up with less than 10 minutes to go, Simba were to let the game slip again.
Die concluded the rip-roaring encounter by scoring a last-gasp penalty.
The win was Asec's first of the Champions League group stages, and ensured Enyimba - and not Simba - would qualify alongside Ismailia from group A.
MMIX
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