The highly anticipated second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final between Tanzania’s Simba SC and Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane has been overshadowed by a venue dispute ahead of the match scheduled on Sunday in Zanzibar.
Simba, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, had hoped to host the return fixture at the 60,000-seat Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub. However, a recent inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) declared the stadium unsuitable for the final due to its poor pitch conditions.
CAF has instead mandated that the match be played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar a much smaller venue with just 15,000 seats, located three hours away by ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar, known as a scenic tourist archipelago off East Africa’s coast, was previously chosen as an alternative venue during Simba’s semi-final against South Africa’s Stellenbosch, after CAF raised concerns over Benjamin Mkapa Stadium’s divoted and muddy pitch.
Simba owner Mo Dewji appealed directly to CAF president Patrice Motsepe to reconsider, but CAF upheld its decision, citing ongoing issues with the national stadium.
In a statement, Dewji expressed disappointment but vowed that his team would honor the decision with determination:
“We will go to Zanzibar not by choice, but by duty. We will fulfil that duty with unity, purpose and pride… The venue may have changed, but the lion remains the same.”
Meanwhile, Renaissance Berkane’s arrival in Zanzibar was marred by logistical problems, including passport control delays and a lack of formal welcome. The Moroccan club’s spokesman described the conditions as “chaotic, unacceptable, and unworthy of a continental competition of this level.”
Berkane, aiming for a record-equalling third Confederation Cup title after wins in 2020 and 2022, started the first leg strongly with early goals from Senegalese forward Mamadou Camara and striker Oussama Lamlioui, the competition’s joint top scorer this season.
Coach Mouin Chaabani, who is pursuing a ninth club title across Africa, acknowledged the 2-0 advantage wasn’t decisive, noting the importance of an away goal in the second leg:
“Scoring an away goal can make a huge difference.”
Simba’s South African coach Fadlu Davids admitted that not playing in Dar es Salaam, where 45,000 supporters would have backed them, was a setback. However, he remains hopeful:
“We conceded early goals in Morocco because we were not mentally ready. I am optimistic we can perform better in Zanzibar.”
The CAF Confederation Cup winner will claim a $2 million prize, while the runner-up receives $1 million.
