Berkane on course for Confederation Cup glory

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday May 17, 2025. 23:02

RS Berkane have put themselves well in control of the CAF Confederation Cup final after they defeated Simba SC 2-0 in the first leg match, held at the Berkane Municipal Stadium on Saturday night.

The Moroccan hosts – who are chasing a third CAFCC title, after triumphs in 2020 and 2022 – established a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter hour. It seemed as if a thrashing was on the cards, but Wekundu wa Msimbazi dug in to keep themselves in the tie, and with at least a glimmer of hope of turning things around on home soil in next weekend’s return leg.

Berkane got off to a flying start and claimed the lead in the eighth minute, with Mamadou Camara getting up to meet Hamza El Moussaoui’s in-swinging corner kick and glance home for 1-0.

And one goal quickly became two, with Oussama Lamlioui scoring in the 14th minute. Simba gave possession away deep in their own half and Imad Riahi found Lamlioui in the penalty area – the forward quickly sorted out his feet with three defenders surrounding him and stabbed home a low shot.

Riahi almost scored a second goal past the midway point of the first half, breaking in behind the Simba defence and sending a low shot on target, but goalkeeper Moussa Camara made an excellent save with his legs.

The visitors, who also suffered an injury blow to key player Abdulrazack Hamza (he was replaced by Che Malone Junior midway through the first half), created only one notable chance through the course of the first 45 minutes, with Shomari Kapombe crossing from the right for Leonel Ateba, but the forward missed the ball with only the goalkeeper between him and the net.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi made another substitution at the start of the second half, with Valentin Nouma replacing Denis Kibu, but the Orange Boys continued to control the game, putting together extended spells of pressure in search of a third goal.

They thought it had arrived on the hour mark, with Youssef Mehri scoring from Camara’s teasing ball into the box, but VAR ruled out the effort after a protracted check.

Berkane became more defensive in the final quarter of the match, and Simba nearly scored a precious away goal in the 84th minute, with Ateba able to turn and shoot in the penalty area, but his effort deflected off the legs of a defender and flashed just wide of the target.

The return game will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar Es Salaam on Sunday 25 May.

RS Berkane (2) 2 (M. Camara 8’, O. Lamlioui 14’)

Simba SC 0

Berkane: M. Mohamedi, A. Tahif, I. Dayo, M. Camara, Y. Mehri, I. Riahi (Y. Zghoudi 74’), Y. Labhiri (R. Hajji 90+6′), O. Lamlioui (B. Ilou 90+6′), A. Khairi, H. El Moussaouhi (M. El Morabit 74’ [M. Santos 87’]), A. Assal

Simba: M. Camara, S. Kapombe, C. Karaboue, A. Hamza (C. Malone Junior 22’), M. Hussein, Y. Kagoma, F. Ngoma, J. Ahoua (D. Fernandes 90+5′), E. Mpanzu (J. Mutale 80’), L. Ateba, D. Kibu (V. Nouma 46’)