DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 3 -- SIMBA SC head coach, Steve Barker pointed to a spate of injuries as the turning point in his sides agonising 2–2 draw with Esperance de Tunis in a CAF Champions League Group D clash at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts were forced into early second-half changes after losing influential midfielder Yusuph Kagoma and centre-back Wilson Nangu, both stretchered off.

The disruptions fractured Simbas structure and drained the momentum they had built after taking control of the contest.

Speaking after the match on Sunday, Barker admitted that the setbacks proved decisive, with Simba struggling to sustain their dominance after taking control of the game.

“We went into halftime with the lead an...