CAF Confederation Cup: RS Berkane receive frosty reception in Zanzibar

Photo: RS Berkane/Facebook

Poorly received upon arrival in Zanzibar, the Moroccan delegation of Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane) denounced dysfunctions and treatment unworthy of a continental final, two days before the return match of the CAF Confederation Cup final against Simba SC.

A surreal scene at Zanzibar International Airport this Thursday. Upon disembarking, the players and staff of Renaissance de Berkane were held for several hours in the arrivals hall, without a clear explanation or decent care. The cause? A supposed "technical glitch" in the passport control system. A well-timed outage 48 hours before the second leg of the Confederation of African Football Cup final.

According to reports, the teammates of Moroccan international goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui (ex-Mohammedi) waited for long hours in conditions that a club official described as "chaotic, unacceptable, and unworthy of a continental competition of this level." There was no formal welcome or logistical support from the host club, Simba SC, which appears to have left its opponents to their own devices in an overcrowded airport, without air conditioning or rest areas.

The scheduling of the return match on the island of Zanzibar – at the Amaan Stadium, rather than the traditional Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam – had already surprised many observers. Officially, the decision was reportedly due to the availability of venues.

Unofficially, some see it as a move to destabilize the Moroccan club, which won 2-0 in the first leg at its home ground, the Berkane Municipal Stadium. The choice of an off-center ground, far from the hustle and bustle of Tanzania's economic capital, raises questions, especially in the context of such a tense home game.

Faced with these repeated "logistical obstacles," RS Berkane management has reportedly already alerted CAF, hoping to receive a reminder from local authorities and prompt immediate action. This move speaks volumes about the tense atmosphere surrounding this final. Officially, the club remains focused on its preparations, but behind the scenes, the frustration is palpable.

Seeking a third continental title (after 2020 and 2022), Berkane was hoping for a peaceful trip. They will first have to come to terms with this frosty reception before defending their lead on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Moroccan time), in a context that is now as much mental as it is tactical.

EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.