The head coach of Simba SC Fadlu Davids has said his is still optimistic his team can tur tables when they face RS Berkane in the return leg of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final.

RS Berkane, the newly crowned Morocco Premier League champions defeated Simba SC 2-0 in the first leg of the final played at the Berkane Municipal Stadium on Saturday evening.

Mamadou Camara nodded in the opening goal after 8 minutes off a Hamza El Moussaoui corner, while Oussama Lamlaoui doubled Berkane’s lead six minutes later.

Simba SC were unlucky when Abdulrazack Hamza limped off injured before the interval. Leonel Ateba and Elie Mpanzu both came close to finding goals for the Tanzanian Premier League side, but the home side stood firm.

However, the Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids has made it clear that they still have a chance in the return leg on May 25^th.

“The final is played over two legs and we have a chance to get back to the drawing board and plan better. We conceded two early goals which put us on a back footing, but I am optimistic we can still perform better in the return leg,” added the coach.

Simba SC, finalists in this competition back in 1993 will be eager to ink a new record when they host the Moroccan team in the return leg of the final.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC will battle RS Berkane in the first leg of the 2024/2025 TotalEergies CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday night at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.

Simba SC will be all out to try and register a good result before hosting the Moroccan side on May 25^th in the return leg.

Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach has made it clear that his youthful team is very ready for the battle. “The confidence in this group of players is there. The hunger and desire is high and our boys are determined to do something,” said the Simba SC coach.

The coach also made it clear that he is aware about the intimidating Stadium in Berkane which his players must be ready to encounter.

Simba SC will look to their leading forward in the tournament Denis Kibu with three goals and in-form Ugandan International Stevne Mukwala. The Tanzania side must also keep a close watch on RS Berkane’s leading scorers Issoufou Daye, Youssef Zghoudi and Paul Bassene who have netted three goals each.

The Msimbazi Reds be out to try and make history to win the trophy that eluded another Tanzanian side Young Africans SC in the 2023 when they lost to Algeria’s USM Alger.

To reach the final Simba SC secured a 1-0 aggregate win over South African side Stellenbosch FC.

 at the semi-final stage.

This marks the second time in recent years that a Tanzanian club has reached the CAF Confederation Cup final, following Young Africans’ narrow away-goal loss to USM Alger in the 2023 final after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC will face RS Berkane in the final of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

After picking a slim 1-0 win in the first leg played in Zanzibar a week ago, the Tanzanian side held on to a barren draw against the South African side Stellenbosch side in the return leg played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.

While Simba SC qualified on a 1-0 goal aggregate, RS Berkane sailed through 4-1 on aggregate after winning 4-0 in the first leg and falling 1-0 in the return leg played on Sunday in Algeria against CS Constantine.

Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach says he is happy that his team has made it to the final of the competition. “The semi-final over two legs were not simple, but we planned well and got the result. Now we need to focus for the final,” said Davids.

The first leg of the final will be played on May 17^th in Morocco, while the return leg will be played May 25^th in either Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar or the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Another Tanzanian side Young Africans SC also played in the final of the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Simba SC’s results in the competition

Al Ahli Tripoli 0 Simba SC 0

Simba SC 3 Al Ahli Tripoli 1

Simba SC 1 Bravos do Maquis 0

CS Constantine 2 Simba SC 1

Simba SC 2 CS Sfaxien 1

CS Sfaxien 0 Simba SC 1

Bravos do Maquis 1 Simba SC 1

Simba SC 2 CS Constantine 0

Quarter finals

Al Masry 2 Simba SC 0

Simba SC 2 Al Masry 2 (Simba win 4-1 on penalties)

Semi finals

Simba SC 1 Stellenbosch 0

Stellenbosch 0 Simba SC 0

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have stopped Stellenbosch FC 1-0 in the first leg of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday.

Jean Charles Ahoua’s goal came at the stroke of half time to send the Simba SC fans celebrating at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar. Ahoua curled in a free kick to beat Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.

After recess the South African Premier League side returned charged and pushed forward, but the Simba SC defenders stood firm.

With the clock ticking away Ahoua dribbled should have made it 2-0 when he dribbled well past the goalkeeper, but surprisingly placed the shot off target with an empty net.

Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach said although they won the first leg, they have to prepare well for the return leg in South Africa. “We had the chance to score many more goals here, but we now have to focus on the return leg,” added the coach.

The second leg will be played on April 27^th at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The winner over two legs will make it to the final to take on the winner between RS Berkane (Morocco) and Algeria’s CS Constantine.