Dar es Salaam. The transfer battlefield in Tanzanian football has intensified as Simba SC closes in on the signing of highly-rated midfielder Balla Moussa Conté (21) from Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien, in what is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic signings of the season.
The Malian sensation, touted as a natural successor to Stephane Aziz Ki Ngoma at Yanga SC, has suddenly turned the tide in favour of Simba after a late-night hijack attempt that sent shockwaves through both camps.
Just yesterday afternoon, Yanga were in advanced talks with CS Sfaxien.
The Tunisian club had granted them official permission to negotiate directly with the player after a preliminary agreement was reached at club level.
Everything seemed set for the Jangwani giants to wrap up the deal.
However, in a dramatic twist later that night, Simba entered the frame with a massive offer one that not only dwarfed Yanga’s proposal but also came with a personal call from head coach Fadlu Davids, who spoke directly with the player’s representatives via phone.
According to insiders, Fadlu didn’t mince his words during the call.
He made it clear that Balla Moussa Conté is his number one target in the current window, and he urged Simba’s top brass to move swiftly and decisively.
The response? Swift.
CS Sfaxien were stunned by the new bid from Simba, which reportedly offers better financial terms, both in transfer fee and salary package.
And while Yanga are still pushing hard to convince the player, it appears Conté is now leaning heavily toward joining Simba, largely thanks to Fadlu’s direct involvement in the talks.
Sources close to the negotiations suggest that the player was “deeply impressed” by the conversation with Fadlu, who outlined a clear vision for his role at Simba, as well as the club’s ambitions on both domestic and continental fronts.
Conté is viewed within Simba’s technical setup as the perfect midfield engine; young, dynamic, and technically gifted capable of taking over the creative mantle left behind by Clatous Chama and being a long-term solution following the departure of key figures.
His potential arrival has sent fans into a frenzy, with social media already buzzing with compilations of his performances in Tunisia.
For Simba, this move isn’t just about beating their fiercest rivals in the transfer market; it’s about making a statement of intent ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign.
Yanga, on the other hand, are not giving up just yet.
They remain in talks with the player and his camp, hoping to sway him back with revised terms and the lure of playing at a club that has dominated local football in recent years.
But the momentum is clearly on Simba’s side.
The battle for Balla Moussa Conté is fierce, emotional, and far from over but if nothing changes, it looks like the red half of Kariakoo might be celebrating a major midfield coup very soon.
