Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has praised Simba SC after the team made history by reaching the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Simba secured their place in the final after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Stellenbosch in Durban on Sunday. They advanced thanks to their 1-0 win from the first leg. Now, they will face Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane in the two-legged final. The first match will be on May 17 in Morocco, and the second on May 25 in Dar es Salaam.
President Hassan was full of pride. She said, “Heartiest congratulations to Simba for winning the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final and making history by reaching the final. You have brought great honour to our country. I wish you all the best. You have my support at all times.”
Keep Reading: african bank misleading advertising fine
Simba, led by South African coach Fadlu Davids, have now matched the achievement of their rivals, Young Africans, who reached the same final last year. Simba last played in a continental final in 1993, where they lost to Stella Abidjan of Ivory Coast.
Their opponents, Berkane, are very experienced. They have won the Confederation Cup twice — in 2020 and 2022 — and were runners-up in 2019 and 2024. They lost 1-0 to CS Constantine in Algeria in the second leg but still advanced easily with a 4-1 win on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker praised his players for their efforts. He said, “I trust we have made South Africa proud. The semi-final could have gone either way.” Stellenbosch had a goal ruled out by VAR and faced extra challenges, including a long journey to Durban, because their home stadium was busy with a rugby game.
It’s a proud moment for Tanzanian football as Simba aim for glory!
