CAF disqualifies Tanzania's national stadium for confederation final match

CAIRO, Egypt

The venue for the 2024-2025 CAF Confederation Cup final has been officially changed. Originally scheduled to be held at the National Stadium (Benjamin Mkapa Stadium) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the African football governing body has announced that the match will now be held at the Amaan Stadium, located on the island of Zanzibar, on May 25 at 3:00 PM GMT.

Benjamin Mkapa Stadium

This decision follows a series of rigorous technical assessments conducted by international experts commissioned by CAF that disqualified the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, although modern with 60,000 seats, was deemed unsuitable for hosting a continental final under current weather conditions, particularly due to the prevailing rainy season in Tanzania.

These analyses revealed that the pitch could not meet the standards required for an event of this magnitude when Tanzania's Simba Sports Club will face out with Moroccan Renaissance Sportive de Berkane in the return leg.

In a letter addressed to the Tanzanian Football Federation, CAF expressed its gratitude for the efforts and collaboration of the Tanzanian authorities, while explaining that this choice was dictated solely by technical considerations aimed at offering players and supporters the best possible conditions for a final worthy of the name.

Simba leadership through Board Member, Crescentius Magori, have refuted the decision and CAF technical advise; terming it 'a lie'. In a post on social media, Magori said: “CAF President Mr Mostepe, this photo and video just taken now at Mkapa Stadium; the pitch is in good shape. Mr President your people are lying to you about the pitch. We know Berkane belongs to who, but as Simba and Tanzanians we are not ready for this!”

Early March this year, CAF temporarily suspended the use of the stadium due to the continued decline in the quality of its playing ground and directed urgent improvements to meet the required standards and prevent a prolonged ban.

The 15,000 people capacity Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, which will host the grand finale, is no stranger to continental competitions.

 Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar

Tanzanian club Simba SC previously hosted South African team Stellenbosch FC there in the first leg of the quarter-final, due to renovations to their usual venue.

The Dar es Salaam club won the first leg 1-0 before holding a goalless draw away, thus securing their place in the final.

Simba will face Moroccan Renaissance Sportive de Berkane in the final, playing in their fifth final in this competition.

The Oriental club secured their qualification despite a 1-0 defeat in Constantine against Algeria's CS Constantine, capitalizing on their resounding 4-0 home victory in the first leg.

The Berkanis will attempt to secure a third continental title, following those won in 2020 and 2022, after losing in the final in 2019 to Zamalek and in 2024 to the same Egyptian opponent.

First leg:

• Saturday, May 17 at 7:00 PM GMT, at the Berkane Municipal Stadium (Morocco)

Return leg:

• Saturday, May 25 at 3:00 PM GMT, at the Amaan Stadium (Zanzibar, Tanzania)