Uganda Cranes striker Steven Mukwala came heartbreakingly close to becoming Simba SC’s hero in the CAF Confederation Cup final, but his 73rd-minute strike was ruled out by VAR, as Moroccan side RS Berkane held the Tanzanians to a 1-1 draw to win the 2024/25 title on aggregate.
Simba had entered the return leg in Dar es Salaam trailing 2-0 from the first leg. Backed by a vociferous home crowd, the Tanzanian side started brightly and took the lead in the 17th minute through Joshua Mutale, who finished off a move initiated by Elie Mpanzu.
Mukwala, a key figure in Simba’s attacking set-up, remained a constant threat, combining well with Shomari Kapombe to keep Berkane’s defence under sustained pressure.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 50th minute when Yusuph Kagoma was sent off, leaving Simba to play the remainder of the match with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Simba continued to push for a second goal that would swing the tie in their favour.
Mukwala thought he had delivered that moment when he found the back of the net midway through the second half.
However, the celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review chalked the goal off for offside, a decision that drew heavy protests from Simba players and fans alike.
With Simba throwing everything forward in search of a winner, RS Berkane struck back. Soumaila Sidibe scored from a tight angle in the 87th minute, leveling the match and extinguishing Simba’s hopes of a comeback.
The goal secured a 3-1 aggregate win for the Moroccan outfit, sealing their third CAF Confederation Cup title after previous triumphs in 2020 and 2022.
Despite the defeat, Mukwala’s performance was one of the standout displays of the night.
The Ugandan striker’s movement, link-up play, and close-range threat caused problems for Berkane throughout the contest, underlining his growing influence at continental level.
