CAFCC: RS Berkane very intimidating at home but Simba will be ready - Davids

Photo Credit - Simba SC Tanzania.

Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids has revealed what his side will encounter when they travel to RS Berkane in the first leg final of the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday, May 17.

The Msimbazi Reds will face the Moroccan side at the 10,0000-seater capacity Stade Municipal de Berkane, with the return leg slated for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, May 25.

Speaking after their 2-1 win against KMC, which saw Simba move to within a point of league leaders and champions Young Africans (Yanga SC), the South African coach admitted his side will face an intimidating first leg in Morocco.

"We will start our preparations for RS Berkane straight away, first we have to analyse this game (win against KMC): our performance, what we did well, how we can manage games better. Because CAF football is about momentum, it is about managing games, it is about when you are on top, how can you capitalise," Davids told Pan-Africa Football.

"Of course, we know when you have to defend, how disciplined can you be, because they have a quite intimidating stadium in Berkane. A small stadium, very similar to KMC Stadium, but bigger in capacity with the fans right on top of you. Quite an intimidating place to play. But we start our preparations with intentions to go there and get a positive result."

Simba made history by reaching the final of the inter-club competition after a 1-0 aggregate win over South African side Stellenbosch FC. Simba secured a crucial 1-0 victory in the first leg at home before holding Stellenbosch to a 0-0 draw in the return leg in South Africa.

This marks the second time in recent years that a Tanzanian club has reached the CAF Confederation Cup final, following Young Africans' narrow away-goal loss to USM Alger in the 2023 final after a 2-2 aggregate draw.