AFC Leopards’ lost their opening match of Mapinduzi Cup tournament going down 1-0 to Tanzanian giants Simba on Wednesday night at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

Leopards held Simba until the 77th minute when Amir Kiemba found the net. Simba coach Zdravko Logarusic was missing from the bench as he had traveled to Croatia for the new year’s holiday.

Head coach James Nandwa says fatigue, occasioned by the long road trip to Dar es Salaam was the key reason for the loss but promised to bounce back in the next matches.