This Saturday, May 17, all eyes in African football will be on the Municipal Stadium of Berkane, Morocco, where Tanzania's Simba SC will face RS Berkane in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final. The match is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 PM East African Time.
This is the second time Simba have reached a CAF competition final, the first being in 1993 in the CAF Cup, where they fell short against Stella Abidjan of Ivory Coast. In that final, Simba managed a goalless draw away but lost 2-0 in the return leg at home in Dar es Salaam. This time, coach Fadlu Davids and his squad are determined to rewrite history by winning their first continental title after more than three decades of waiting.
Simba’s Opportunity
Simba have shown steady progress this season, improving step by step to reach the final, and they are now regarded as one of the top clubs in Africa—ranked fourth in the current CAF club rankings. The Msimbazi giants head into tonight’s clash with high hopes but also with caution, knowing they are up against an experienced side used to high-stakes matches.
For tonight’s game, Simba will aim for a positive result—be it a win, a draw, or even a narrow loss. The key target is to ensure they return to Dar es Salaam with at least one away goal, which could prove crucial in deciding the outcome of the second leg.
Key Players to Watch
Simba’s attacking line will depend on the contributions of Kibu Denis and Jean Ahoua, each having scored three goals in the competition so far. Together with winger Elie Mpanzu and one of the strikers—either Steven Mukwala or Lionel Ateba—they will form the attacking front. In midfield, Fabrice Ngoma and Yusuph Kagoma are expected to anchor the team, while the defense will likely be marshaled by Abdulrazak Hamza, Chamou Caraboua, Mohammed Hussein ‘Tshabalala’, and Shomari Kapombe. Goalkeeper Moussa Camara is set to retain his spot between the posts.
RS Berkane’s Experience
On the other side, RS Berkane bring a wealth of experience in this competition. Over the past six years, they’ve reached four CAF Confederation Cup finals, winning the title twice. After losing last season’s final to Zamalek, they’re back this year with clear intentions to redeem themselves and reclaim their continental glory.
With a squad full of quality and experience, Berkane will go into the match aiming for nothing less than a home win in front of their fans. This means Simba must remain sharp in all departments to withstand the pressure of playing away.
This is a rare and golden opportunity for Simba to write a new chapter in Tanzanian football history. With a solid squad and rising morale, Simba must play with discipline, focus, and a strong desire to win if they are to position themselves well ahead of the second leg in Dar es Salaam. Although RS Berkane are formidable opponents, Simba have every reason to believe that their time has come to shine and show Africa that they belong at the top.
