Lionel Ateba, a Cameroonian striker, has been signed by Simba SC

Lionel Ateba, a striker from Cameroon, has officially signed with Simba SC. He will play his first game for the team on Sunday at KMC Stadium in the 2024–2025 NBC Premier League versus Tabora United.

After just six months with Algerian side USM Alger, the attacker signed a two-year contract with the Msimbazi giants. According to reports, Simba paid a $200,000 transfer fee to acquire the striker for Dar es Salaam, in line with head coach Fadlu Davids’ intentions to bolster the team’s offensive options.

Ateba is expected to join the team in time for the season’s opening game, according to confirmation from Ahmed Ally, Simba’s manager of information and communication. After participating in a comprehensive pre-season training camp with USMA, Ateba is scheduled to start the season’s opening game. As reported by the Guardian, Ally said, “His fitness will be valuable to the club from the very first match.”

The signing comes after lengthy conversations between Davids and the administration, as the club has been aggressively seeking to bolster its offensive department. “Coach Davids has faith in the midfield, defense, and goalkeeping positions. But he did say we should step up our offensive. As Freddy Kouablan, Steven Mukwala, and Valentino Mashaka are already on the team, Ally said, “We think Ateba will add the extra firepower needed.”

Following unsuccessful attempts to recruit other attackers, such as Red Arrows’ Ricky Banda and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ethiopian forward Abubekir Nasir, Ateba has joined the team.

The Cameroonian international has a stellar CV, having played for Coton Sport, PWD Bamenda, and Dynamo Douala, among other prestigious teams in his own land. Despite not playing in the competition, he was included in the Cameroon team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ateba has made 12 appearances in the Algerian Ligue 1 since joining USMA in January, with one goal and two assists. He scored three goals in seven games for the CAF Confederation Cup, and he added two goals and two assists in four games for the Coupe d’Algerie.