CAFCC: Simba SC reach final; Kapombe, Mpanzu, Hussein reaction

Photo Credit - Simba SC Tanzania.

We take a look at what Simba SC's players had to say after their historic semi-final victory over Stellenbosch, which secured their place in the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup final.

Mohamed Hussein: “We are through to the final, we will face RS Berkane, we don’t fear them, but we only have respect for them. They have reached the final just like we have, so let the final decide the winners. We are ready and determined to do whatever it takes.”

Ally Salim: “We played as a team, we fought as a team and now we have a ticket to the final. We did it because of our unity and following instructions. That is it, we didn’t qualify because of anything else, but only because we played according to instructions."

Shomari Kapombe: “I extend my heartfelt thank you message to the fans in South Africa, who turned out to cheer for us. We played as if we were playing at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The fans created a great atmosphere. On behalf of the team, I send a thank you message. It was a difficult game, our opponents tried to push to get an away goal, but we stayed solid as a team, we attacked as a team, defended as a team, and we managed to qualify.”

Simba SC fans in Durban - Photo Credit - Simba SC.

David Kameta: “The win belongs to the Simba family but the war is not done yet, we still have the final to play, and when we play the final, we will play to clinch the trophy, there is no short cut, and we are ready to make our fans even more proud.”

Che Malone: “We have created history with Simba to reach the final, but the job doesn’t end here, we have to play in the final and no matter who plays [in the final] we have to create the same energy to help us lift the trophy.”

Ellie Mpanzu: “I am very happy to have played my first semi-final and now, soon, final with Simba. Reaching the final is very important [...] a great boost in my football career.”

The achievement marked a historic return to the final for Simba – a feat last achieved in 1993 when they reached the final of the then CAF Cup. On that occasion, they were defeated by Ivory Coast outfit Stella Club d’Adjamé, drawing 0-0 away in Abidjan before losing 2-0 in the return leg at the then National Stadium (now renamed Uhuru Stadium).

Simba will now face RS Berkane in the final. The Moroccan side overcame CS Constantine, winning the first leg 4-0 before losing 1-0 in the return match on Sunday.