Simba SC goalkeepers in the 2026/27 season include Niger international Djibrilla Kassali, Tanzanian goalkeeper Hussein Abel Thomas and Yakoub Suleiman Ali, who features in the club’s published squad records. Kassali started Simba’s 2 November NBC Premier League match against Namungo wearing number 39, while Hussein Abel was named among the substitutes in number 28. Yakoub Suleiman is listed as number 22 in football squad databases.

Simba SC goalkeepers: player list and shirt numbers
| Goalkeeper | Nationality | Shirt number | 2026/27 playing record |
| Djibrilla Kassali | Niger | 39 | Started v Namungo, 2 Nov 2026 |
| Hussein Abel Thomas | Tanzania | 28 | Substitute v Namungo, 2 Nov 2026 |
| Yakoub Suleiman Ali | Tanzania | 22 | Listed in squad databases; current match selection not documented here |

For the complete first-team picture, explore our Simba SC squad, including defenders, midfielders and forwards.
Who is Simba SC’s first-choice goalkeeper?
Djibrilla Kassali was Simba SC’s starting goalkeeper against Namungo on 2 November 2026. Coach Steve Barker also selected him to start the Kariakoo Derby against Young Africans on 10 October and the NBC Premier League match against Mashujaa on 13 October. Hussein Abel Thomas was named as the substitute goalkeeper in each of those official team sheets.
Kassali has therefore held the starting position in the verified recent matches. Hussein Abel has also started for Simba: he was selected against Coastal Union on 2 April 2026, with the club confirming that he replaced Kassali in the XI for that fixture.
Simba SC goalkeeper profiles
Djibrilla Kassali: Niger international and Simba goalkeeper
Djibrilla Kassali, the Niger international goalkeeper playing for Simba SC, was born on 5 July 1996 and is 30 years old as of November 2026. CAF records identify him by the longer name Mahamadou Tanja Djibrilla Kassali Djibo and list ASFAN of Niger as his club during the African Nations Championship registration in 2023. Kassali wears Simba’s number 39 shirt and started the club’s league matches against Young Africans, Mashujaa and Namungo in October and November 2026. His experience with Niger and recent first-team selections place him at the centre of Simba’s goalkeeping group.
Hussein Abel Thomas: Tanzania goalkeeper and squad option
Hussein Abel Thomas, a Tanzanian Simba SC goalkeeper born on 19 March 1999, is 27 years old as of November 2026. He wears number 28 and was named on the bench for Simba’s November league meeting with Namungo. His record also includes a starting appearance against Coastal Union on 2 April 2026, when the club confirmed he had replaced Kassali in the starting lineup. Those selections establish Hussein Abel’s involvement in Simba’s senior goalkeeping rotation.
Yakoub Suleiman Ali: Tanzania goalkeeper with JKT Tanzania history
Yakoub Suleiman Ali, a Tanzanian goalkeeper listed in Simba SC squad records under number 22, previously played for JKT Tanzania. Tanzania’s league player directory connects his career to both clubs and records domestic league appearances across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. ESPN’s 2026/27 CAF Champions League squad page also includes Yakoub among the goalkeepers. His career record adds another Tanzanian goalkeeper to the club’s published squad lists.
Simba SC goalkeeper jersey numbers and positions
Djibrilla Kassali wears number 39 and Hussein Abel Thomas number 28 in Simba’s recent official matchday selections. Yakoub Suleiman Ali is listed with number 22 in the published squad records. All three are identified as goalkeepers; their shirt numbers distinguish them from outfield players and from names that appear in older squad lists.
Simba SC goalkeeper stats: appearances, saves and clean sheets
Simba SC goalkeeper stats are best read within each competition. Appearances and starts record selection, saves measure shots stopped, goals conceded reflect the team’s defensive record, and clean sheets show matches finished without conceding. A goalkeeper’s CAF Champions League figures should not be added to NBC Premier League totals and presented as league statistics.
ESPN’s 2026/27 squad table identifies goalkeepers by position, age and nationality, but its supplied performance columns contain no recorded figures. Simba’s official team sheets establish who started and who was on the bench in specific matches. The club’s 3–2 victory over Namungo on 2 November, for example, confirms a Kassali start and two goals conceded in that match, rather than a clean sheet.
Simba SC goalkeeper match ratings also differ between statistics providers. A rating is a provider-specific assessment, while a clean sheet and a match appearance are match facts. Keeping those measures separate gives supporters a clearer view of each goalkeeper’s performances.
Simba SC goalkeepers in the CAF Champions League
Simba SC CAF Champions League goalkeepers compete under a separate tournament schedule from the domestic league. ESPN’s CAF Champions League squad listing for 2026/27 names Yakoub Suleiman, Hussein Thomas and Mahamadou Tanja Djibo. Club matchday announcements establish Kassali and Hussein Abel’s recent domestic selections, while the tournament squad lists provide their continental context.
Read our Simba SC CAF Champions League coverage for the club’s continental campaign, squad information and competition developments.
Simba SC goalkeeper history and former players
Among former Simba SC goalkeepers, Aishi Manula remains a familiar name from the club’s earlier campaigns. Moussa Camara, the Guinean goalkeeper born on 27 November 1998 in Siguiri, also spent part of his career with Simba after playing for Horoya AC. His spell belongs to Simba’s earlier goalkeeping history, alongside the more recent matchday selections of Kassali and Hussein Abel.

Simba SC vs Yanga: the goalkeepers in the Kariakoo Derby
The Simba SC vs Yanga goalkeeper stats comparison begins with the actual team selections. Kassali started for Simba in the 10 October 2026 Kariakoo Derby, while Hussein Abel was named on the bench. A full goalkeeping comparison also considers each side’s saves, goals conceded and clean sheets across the same competition and season, rather than relying on reputation or a single result.
Follow the wider title race through our Tanzania Premier League 2026/27 guide, which brings together league fixtures, results and club coverage.
Follow Simba SC fixtures, results and Tanzania Premier League news
Check the Simba SC fixtures for opponents, scheduled matches, venues and kickoff information, and use our
Follow Simba SC results and standings for the club’s match outcomes and league position.
For the latest completed matches, read our Simba Premier League results roundup. SportPesa Score provides live scores, match statistics, results and changing league standings; the SportPesa Tanzania Blog covers club news, match reports and the wider domestic football season.
Explore available football fixtures and prices on SportPesa Tanzania football markets. We provide match information and available markets without publishing editorial betting predictions.
For regular updates from across the country, visit the SportPesa Tanzania Blog.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Simba SC goalkeepers for 2026/27?
Djibrilla Kassali and Hussein Abel Thomas were selected for Simba’s official 2 November 2026 matchday squad. Yakoub Suleiman Ali is listed in published 2026/27 squad databases.
What number does Djibrilla Kassali wear?
Djibrilla Kassali wore number 39 in Simba’s official starting lineup against Namungo on 2 November 2026.
Who started in goal for Simba SC against Yanga?
Djibrilla Kassali started the 10 October 2026 Kariakoo Derby against Young Africans, with Hussein Abel Thomas listed among the substitutes.
Where can I find current Simba SC fixtures and results?
Check SportPesa Tanzania’s Simba fixtures and results pages for match schedules and completed games, and follow SportPesa Score for live match updates and standings.
Following Simba SC throughout the season
Simba SC goalkeepers form an important part of the club’s 2026/27 campaign, with Kassali’s recent starts and Hussein Abel’s senior appearances documented in official team sheets. Yakoub Suleiman’s squad records and previous playing history add further context to the goalkeeping group. Follow Simba’s next fixtures, league results and continental matches through SportPesa Tanzania’s football coverage and SportPesa Score.


