Berkane aims to capitalize on home advantage

The first game of the CAF Confederation Cup final between RS Berkane and Simba SC will take place at the Berkane Municipal Stadium on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the evening. RS Berkane will want to make the most of being at home. The game starts at 21:00 CAT.

RSB has won the Confederation Cup twice, in 2020 and 2022. This will be their fifth trip to the final, all since 2019.

The Moroccan team beat Stellenbosch FC, Desportivo da Lunda Sul, and Stade Malien to win Group B. They then beat ASEC Mimosas (2-0 on aggregate) and CS Constantine (4-1 on aggregate) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

Mouïne Chaabani, the coach of RS Berkane, wants his team to play at its best at home and try to avoid giving up any away goals.

He said, “We got to this point in the competition by making a lot of sacrifices, and we have no plans to waste this effort.”

“We want to win the title.” We need to pay close attention and not make any mistakes while we play. It’s important that we don’t give up a goal in the first game, and we will try to score to make things tough for our opponent.

They are the first club from Tanzania to make it to the final of the Confederation Cup, which is a big deal. It is their second international club final. In 1993, they lost to Stella Club from Ivory Coast in the CAF Cup final.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi beat CS Constantine, Bravos do Maquis, and CS Sfaxien to win Group A. They then beat Al Masry (on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw) and Stellenbosch (1-0 on aggregate) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

Fadlu Davids, the coach of Simba, wants to get back at Berkane because he was on the coaching staff for Orlando Pirates when they lost to Morocco in the 2022 Confederation Cup final.

Someone important at Orlando Pirates just sent me a message that said, “Remember that Berkane beat us on penalties.” “That game still makes me feel bad,” the South African coach said.

He also said, “Berkane is a better team.” Last season, when we were with Raja Casablanca, we played against this boss, Mouine Chaabani.

Head-to-head records show that RS Berkane and Simba have played two past games against each other. Both teams were in the group stage of the 2021–22 Confederation Cup. Tanzania won the first game 1-0 at home, but the Orange Boys won the second game 2-0 in Morocco.

On Sunday, May 25, the second leg of this final will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.