Zanzibar. There is no other option; victory is the only acceptable outcome.
That’s the resounding message echoing from the hearts of Simba SC fans, members, and faithful supporters ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup final second leg clash, set for Sunday, May 25, 2025, at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The Msimbazi giants will host Moroccan side RS Berkane, aiming to overturn a 2-0 deficit suffered in the first leg last Saturday in Berkane.
For Simba, it’s do or die. Come rain or shine, the Tanzanian powerhouse must win by at least two goals to level the aggregate score and keep their dreams alive of clinching a historic first-ever continental title.
The highly anticipated encounter, to be officiated by Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida, has ignited a wave of excitement across Tanzania, particularly among Simba’s passionate fan base.
The dream is simple yet powerful — to witness a night where Simba SC finally conquer Africa and etche its name into football history.
This final, played on home soil, comes exactly 11,502 days — or 31 years, 5 months, and 28 days — since Simba last appeared in a continental final, when they lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast’s Stella Abidjan in the 1993 CAF Cup in front of Tanzania’s then-president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
Now, in a twist of poetic fate, his son — Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar — will be present in the stands as Simba attempt to complete the journey his father once witnessed but could not celebrate.
Pride glory on the line
Simba SC stand tall as one of East Africa’s most historic football clubs. The club became the first Tanzanian side to reach the African Cup of Champions Clubs (now the CAF Champions League) semi-finals in 1974 and the first to reach a CAF competition final in 1993.
Now, for only the second time in history — and the first since the 2004 merger of the CAF Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup — Simba return to the continental final, seeking not just redemption, but regional pride.
Victory would place Simba alongside Gor Mahia, who remain East Africa’s only continental title winners, having lifted the 1987 Cup Winners’ Cup after defeating Tunisia’s Esperance on away goals.
Simba’s success would further cement the region’s rising dominance in CECAFA football, especially after arch-rivals Yanga SC came agonizingly close last season, finishing runners-up without losing a match.
For Simba, lifting the trophy would silence their rivals and bury the ghosts of 1993.
A medal alone isn’t enough. This time, the crown must come home.
A clash of giants
On paper, Simba hold the edge in continental prestige and current CAF rankings.
They sit 4th in the latest CAF club standings, ahead of RS Berkane, who are ranked 9th.
Only African giants Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Esperance (Tunisia) sit above Simba.
The Tanzanian side’s path to the final has been anything but easy.
In the quarterfinals, they overturned a 2-0 away defeat against Egypt’s Al Masry by matching the scoreline in Dar es Salaam, eventually progressing on penalties.
That comeback spirit will be crucial if they are to dethrone a Berkane side that already boasts two Confederation Cup titles and recently claimed their first-ever Moroccan league crown.
The cup and the cash
Beyond the pride and prestige, Simba are also playing for a major financial reward.
Reaching the final guarantee them $1 million (about Sh2.7 billion).
But lifting the trophy will double that to $2 million (about Sh5.4 billion) — a figure nearly equal to their entire player recruitment budget announced at the club’s General Meeting last October.
Raising the club’s profile
A win on Sunday would transform Simba SC’s reputation across the continent.
Success on the CAF stage enhances a club’s appeal to sponsors, increases brand visibility, and attracts top talent from across Africa and beyond.
Yanga SC experienced a similar surge after their final run last season, signing sponsorship deals and raising their commercial profile.
For Simba, a title win would not only bring glory but could boost the transfer value of their players, opening doors to elite clubs — much like past Simba stars Luis Miquissone and Clatous Chama, who secured moves to Al Ahly and RS Berkane respectively after standout continental performances.
