CAF Confederation Cup final moves to Zanzibar
- panafricafootball
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
The venue for the 2024-2025 CAF Confederation Cup final has been officially changed. Originally scheduled to be held at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the African football governing body has announced that the match will now be held at the Amaan Stadium, located on the island of Zanzibar, on May 25 at 3:00 PM GMT.
Purely technical and climatic reasons
This decision follows a series of rigorous technical assessments conducted by international experts commissioned by CAF. The National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, although modern, was deemed unsuitable for hosting a continental final under current weather conditions, particularly due to the prevailing rainy season in Tanzania. These analyses revealed that the pitch could not meet the standards required for an event of this magnitude.
In a letter addressed to the Tanzanian Football Federation, CAF expressed its gratitude for the efforts and collaboration of the Tanzanian authorities, while explaining that this choice was dictated solely by technical considerations aimed at offering players and supporters the best possible conditions for a final worthy of the name.
A Stadium Already Familiar to Simba
The Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, which will host the grand final, is no stranger to continental competitions. Tanzanian club Simba SC previously hosted South African team Stellenbosch FC there in the first leg of the quarter-final, due to renovations to their usual venue. The Dar es Salaam club won the first leg 1-0 before holding a goalless draw away, thus securing their place in the final.
A Maghreb-East African Remake
Simba will face Moroccan Renaissance Sportive de Berkane in the final, playing in their fifth final in this competition. The Oriental club secured their qualification despite a 1-0 defeat in Constantine against Algeria's CS Constantine, capitalizing on their resounding 4-0 home victory in the first leg. The Berkanis will attempt to secure a third continental title, following those won in 2020 and 2022, after losing in the final in 2019 to Zamalek and in 2024 to the same Egyptian opponent.
Schedule for the two legs of the final
First leg:
Saturday, May 17 at 7:00 PM GMT, at the Berkane Municipal Stadium (Morocco)
Return leg:
Saturday, May 25 at 3:00 PM GMT, at the Amaan Stadium (Zanzibar, Tanzania)
EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.
