By Mark Ogagan
In a fiercely contested battle at Morocco’s Municipal Stadium, RS Berkane secured a 2-0 victory over Simba SC of Tanzania in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final on Saturday.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, the hosts made their intentions clear from the onset, applying early pressure that yielded results within the first 10 minutes. A pinpoint corner from Hamza El Moussaoui in the 8th minute found Mamadou Camara, who rose highest to head home from close range and give the home side a dream start.
Just six minutes later, Oussama Lamlaoui doubled Berkane’s lead with a well-taken finish after latching onto an incisive pass from Imad Riahi.
RS Berkane, appearing in their fifth CAF Confederation Cup final, showcased the form that has seen them lose just once in this season’s continental campaign.
Coach Mouaine Chaabani’s men demonstrated the tactical discipline and winning mentality that brought them previous CAF Confederation Cup success in 2020 and 2022, as they continue their quest for a third title to match CS Sfaxien’s record.
The visitors from Tanzania, finalists in this competition back in 1993, proved they hadn’t made the journey to Morocco merely to make up the numbers.
Simba SC, 22-time Tanzanian champions, entered the contest following an impressive run that saw them eliminate South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC in the semifinals with a disciplined defensive display in the second leg.
Saturday’s encounter held special memories for Simba’s South African coach Fadlu Davids, who previously faced Berkane when serving as assistant coach at Raja Casablanca.
His familiarity with the Orange Boys’ strengths was evident in his pre-match comments acknowledging the difficulty of playing at Berkane’s fortress, where the hosts have been imperious throughout this campaign.
All attention now shifts to the return leg on May 25 at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, where Simba SC has yet to taste defeat in this season’s competition.
With the tie delicately poised, both teams will be eyeing the ultimate prize – continental glory and the opportunity to represent their respective countries in the CAF Super Cup.
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