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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has mandated that the second leg of the Confederation Cup final between Tanzania’s Simba and Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane be held at Zanzibar’s 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium, a three-hour ferry ride from Dar es Salaam, on May 25.
Simba trail 2–0 from the first leg in Morocco, where goals from Senegalese Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlioui, the competition’s joint-top scorer, secured Berkane’s advantage.
The decision to move the match from Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium stemmed from its poor pitch conditions, exposed during Simba’s quarter-final penalty shootout win over Egypt’s Al Masry.
CAF previously ordered Simba’s semi-final against South Africa’s Stellenbosch to Zanzibar, citing the same issue. Despite Simba owner Mo Dewji’s plea to CAF president Patrice Motsepe to host the final in Dar es Salaam, CAF upheld the Zanzibar venue, acknowledging Tanzania’s efforts but prioritizing pitch quality.
“This is disheartening for Simba and our supporters, but we will go to Zanzibar with unity and pride. To our players: play with courage and composure. The lion remains the same,” Dewji said .
Berkane, aiming for a record-equaling third Confederation Cup title after wins in 2020 and 2022, faced logistical issues upon arriving in Zanzibar, including a passport control delay and a lack of formal welcome, which their spokesman called “chaotic and unacceptable.”
Simba’s South African coach Fadlu Davids, chasing his first trophy, admitted the venue shift reduces their fan support by 45,000 but remains optimistic.
“We weren’t mentally ready in Morocco. I believe we can perform better in Zanzibar,” he said.
Berkane’s Tunisian coach Mouin Chaabani, eyeing a ninth career title, cautioned that a two-goal lead is not secure, noting, “One away goal could force Simba to score four.”
The winner of the Confederation Cup, Africa’s equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, will earn $2 million, with the runner-up receiving $1 million.
With input from AFP
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