CAF Confederation Cup Final Preview: RS Berkane (MAR) vs Simba SC (TZA)

The end of the African football season is coming up but that means that champions must be crowned. The final of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup begins on Saturday in Morocco with RS Berkane hosting the first leg of their clash with Tanzania’s Simba SC.

Read all about both clubs in our preview below before the first leg kicks off on Saturday:

1st Leg- Saturday, May 17 (20:00 GMT)- Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco

2nd Leg- Sunday, May 25 (15:00 GMT)- Amaan Stadium in Tanzania

The “Orange Boys” are a force of consistency and tenacity this season. RSB are enjoying a historical season that saw them capture their first top flight Moroccan Botola Pro title with many games to spare, sending a message to the nation’s traditional heavyweights that they are here to stay as a force in Moroccan football.

After finishing as runners-up in the Confederation Cup last season and winning the Botola Pro, a Confederation Cup title would be suitable cherry on top in a competition where RSB thrives. They have now appeared in four of the last six Confederation Cup titles, winning the 2019-20 and 2021-22 editions.

The 42-year-old former defender is a towering figure who has built a well organized team and positive atmosphere with RSB. The former Tunisia national team player formerly coached at Tunis giants Espérance as well as in Egypt with Al Masry and Ceramica Cleopatra before taking charge at RSB in February 2024.

Chaabani’s team does not overwhelm their opponents but dominates on the defensive end with over 25 clean sheets this season in all competitions. In addition, RSB thrives on set pieces and seems to always find a way to win close matches, positive characteristics that are the product of a strong technical team and a high level of unity in the squad.

RSB’s greatest strength is their defensive unit which has been simply dominant this season. The Orange Boys only allowed fourteen goals this season in their title-winning Botola Pro campaign, the best defensive record in Morocco’s top division since Moghreb Tetouan’s championship in the 2011-12 season. Their record is even more impressive in the Confederation Cup where they only allowed two goals in ten matches across the group stage and the knockout stages.

Burkinabe defender Issoufou Dayo is a beloved figure at the club, now in his ninth season with RSB. The towering stopper appears to be back fit again and will likely be partnered by Adil Tahif who participated with Morocco at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dayo also has an eye for goal, being a formidable force on attacking set pieces along with strong technical ability and composure that he displays as the club’s top penalty kick taker.

Senegalese midfielder Mamadou Camara won the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and brings both ball winning abilities and excellent technical ability at the base of a strong RSB midfield.

The attack is not dominant but it is very efficient for RSB. Ahead of Camara in the center of the midfield, the energetic duo of Yassine Labhiri and Ayoub Khairi spark the attack while also fulfilling defensive duties.

The attack is well balanced but the main goal threat is Oussama Lamlioui. The 25-year-old forward has sixteen goals in all competitions this season.

But what makes Berkane difficult to defeat is that there is not one player who is the focus of the team. The attacking contributions come from a variety of sources, making RSB a difficult team to prepare for.

RS Berkane’s Goal Scoring Committee

In support of Lamlioui are midfielders like Khairi and Labhiri but also capable wingers and attackers. Youssef Mehri is enjoying a strong season while Imad Riahi and Senegalese attacker Paul Bassène can contribute when at their best. Youssef Zghoudi is a more experienced forward who continues to provide a reliable depth option in his sixth season with RSB.

The giants of Tanzanian football are now within sight of a continental title that has long eluded them since they won one of the predecessors of the Confederation Cup, the 1993 CAF Cup.

One of the most supported clubs in Africa, Simba are one of the handful of sub-Saharan African clubs that is not shy about spending big to achieve its goals and that is certainly the case in a club that has a Pan-African element to it. While fellow Dar es Salaam club Young Africans look set to win Tanzania’s NBC Premier League for a second consecutive season, the Reds can upstage their rivals with a continental trophy.

The South African has added the element of composure and confidence to this Simba team after gaining experience coaching in Morocco and Russia in addition to his native country. Davids is a coach who focuses on adapting his strategy based on the opponent and his style of using different approaches is particularly paying dividends for Simba in continental competition.

The 43-year-old former Maritzburg United player is emerging as a rising coaching star in African football after years under the mentorship of German coach Josef Zinnbauer as an assistant. Davids is now standing out on his own as a head coach and could take a massive step forward in his career with Confederation Cup title.

The Simba defense is a balanced department that is led by their domestic Tanzanian talent. Left back Mohamed Hussein and right back Shomari Kapombe are the most notable players with both spending over eight years at the club.

Hussein is a fierce defender who is capable of shutting down opposing wingers while Kapombe adds plenty to the attack with his forward runs and crossing ability. Kapombe also scored the winning penalty in Simba’s quarterfinal triumph over Egypt’s Al Masry.

Ivorian central defender Chamou Karaboue has emerged in a more prominent role and will be partnered by Tanzania international Abdulrazack Hamza. Most important to the Simba defense is their central midfield pairing of Tanzanian player Yusuph Kagoma and Congolese veteran Fabrice Ngoma who will look to make life difficult for RS Berkane’s midfield.

Simba is well known for spending their money in the attack where many sub-Saharan African players have boosted their profile from nations in West, Central and Southern Africa. This season, the most visible star in the Simba offense is Ivorian attacking midfielder/forward Jean Charles Ahoua. The 23-year-old has 18 goals and 9 assists this season and also could make the difference with his set piece deliveries.

Congolese attacker Elie Mpanzu, who arrived midway through the ongoing season, has emerged as an unpredictable force who can cause problems with his pace, dribbling and flair for the spectacular.

There is no shortage of players who can score goals for the Reds. Ugandan poacher Steven Mukwala also figures to play a role in the Confederation Cup final as well as Tanzanian international Kibu Denis. Forgotten in the group is Leonel Ateba whose form has declined over the course of the season but the Cameroonian could play a role in some form.

Simba’s Foreign Attacking Stars