Tanzania’s Simba SC took a major step toward the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final after securing a crucial 1-0 win against South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The match, played on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, saw Jean Charles Ahoua score the only goal of the game just before the halftime whistle, giving Simba the edge heading into the break.
Despite a spirited second-half response from Stellenbosch, Simba’s defense held strong. The South African side pushed for an equalizer, but the Tanzanian defense proved impenetrable.
Simba nearly doubled their lead in the 60th minute, but Ahoua missed a golden opportunity, sending the ball over the bar. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Simba SC, who now carry a narrow advantage into the second leg.
After the match, Simba head coach Fadlu Davids acknowledged the importance of staying focused ahead of the return leg in South Africa.
“We had chances to score more goals, but now the priority is preparing for the second leg,” he said.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu expressed her pride in the team through a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“I congratulate Simba Club on this CAF Confederation Cup victory. You’ve brought joy to your fans and the entire nation. You’ve raised our flag high. The Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports will support you. I wish you all the best going forward.”
The return leg will be played on April 27 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa. The winner will advance to the final to face either RS Berkane of Morocco or CS Constantine of Algeria.