Dar es Salaam. The belief remains strong among Simba SC fans after a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semifinal, held at the historic New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Simba entered the match determined to secure a clean sheet win at home, a strategy they executed perfectly, especially considering how vital an away goal can be in CAF competitions.
The only goal of the match came in first-half added time, with Charles Jean Ahoua scoring in the 45+2 minute after a tense delay that required a VAR check before DR Congo referee Jean Ndalo confirmed the goal.
Those four minutes of suspense silenced the crowd at Amaan Stadium, but once VAR validated the goal, the Simba fans erupted like fireworks in sky.
It was the first time Simba played a CAF match on Zanzibari soil, and they made it count securing a historic victory on a memorable night.
Simba’s brightest stars on the evening were attackers Kibu Denis and Mpanzu, who constantly troubled Stellenbosch defenders Fawaaz Basadie and Enyinnaya Godswill with their speed, strength, and creativity.
Time and again, the duo broke into the box, creating danger.
Godswill was shown a yellow card in the 35th minute for fouling Mpanzu, followed later by a booking for Jabaar.
Simba’s tactical approach focused on collective attacking and defending, with Mukwala leading the press supported by Ahoua, Kibu, and Mpanzu in launching offensive waves.
Coach Fadlu Davids fine-tuned the pace by carefully deploying his central defenders Abdulrazak Hamza and Chamoe Karaboue, while allowing Kapombe and Tshabalala the freedom to surge forward during attacks.
The game was a masterclass in discipline and technical precision, with every Simba player executing his role flawlessly in line with the technical bench’s instructions.
Though Simba didn’t go all-out in high-speed attacks as they usually do, they maintained solid defensive organization and capitalized efficiently on the few chances they created.
Despite the win, Coach Fadlu Davids reminded his players that the job is far from over, urging them to stay focused ahead of next week’s return leg in South Africa.
“This match was very important for us. We needed to avoid conceding an away goal—and we succeeded. But we still have a tough task ahead,” said Fadlu.
Goalkeeper Moussa Camara was also crucial in the win, preserving his clean sheet with key saves late in the game as Stellenbosch pushed hard for an equalizer.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker admitted Simba outplayed his side in the first half, but vowed they’ll be back stronger on home turf.
“We knew it was going to be tough. Simba played well, especially in midfield. We’re heading back to South Africa with a plan to bounce back,” said Barker.
VAR once again proved crucial in CAF competitions, with Simba benefiting from the technology to see justice served in their favor.
Looking ahead to the return leg, Simba only need a draw or any win to reach the final, while Stellenbosch must win by two or more goals to advance.
