First leg
Venue: Stade Municipal
Time 7 pm (Saturday)
Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)
The first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup will be played on Saturday evening with RS Berkane of Morocco welcoming Simba SC of Tanzania on Saturday evening at the Stade Municipal de Berkane with 15,000 vociferous fans behind the home side.
RS Berkane
The club has won its first-ever league title and will be looking forward to adding the CAF Confederation Cup title to enjoy probably their best season in their history. The club, under the guidance of Tunisian tactician Mouin Chabaani, won the Moroccan Botola PRO in grand style after proving to be the better side above the rest.
Chaabani is twice the winner of the CAF Champions League, having won it in 2018 and 2019 for Esperance de Tunis. The 43-year-old has gained enough experience in the African game, even at a very young age, after winning a combined seven trophies with the Tunisian giants.
“There are no winners in football before matches are played,” the 43-year-old said ahead of the first leg.
“Simba have a proud history in this competition and is a deserving finalist. They have earned the right to compete for the title.
“However, provided we put in the effort and prepare properly, there is no reason why we cannot bring the trophy to Morocco, the Tunisian coach concluded.
Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup has proven to be the best team after smashing opponents into pieces, including home and away victories over ASEC Mimosa in the quarter-finals and a 4-0 thumping of Algerian side Constantine in the semi-final. Berkane has won 10 of the 12 games played so far in the competition, having recorded just one defeat, which was against Constantine. They are undoubtedly the best team in this competition after winning it twice and also losing twice since 2019.
In all games played in this competition at home, Berkane has won 42, drawn six and is yet to taste a defeat. This record makes them the favourite against Simba. The Moroccans are dangerous with stars like Oussama Lamlioui, Paul Bassene and Issoufou Dayo, who have scored a combined 13 goals.
Simba SC
Fadlu Davids, who has worked magic with Simba, knows the task ahead as his side prepares for the first leg. “I accept that we will have to do a lot of defending and have prepared thoroughly for such a situation,” Davids said in the pre-match conference.
The club got the approval from Tanzania’s president, Samia Suluhu, who organised a jet for the entourage to Morocco. “Heartiest congratulations to Simba,” she said, referring to the Dar es Salaam club reaching the Confederation Cup final for the first time.
“You have brought great honor to our country, and I wish you all the best. You have my full support, she said.
Simba has shown resilience in the competition after surviving huge scares from Al Masry of Egypt and Stellenbosch of South Africa en route to the finals..
The Tanzanians are playing their first-ever finals in the CAF Confederation Cup and have little experience at this level compared to their opponents, who will be enjoying their 5th.
Stars like Steve Mukwala, Denis Kibu, Jean Charles Ahoua and Elie Mpanzu are very dangerous and can hurt Berkane even in Morocco.
