CAF Confederation Cup: RS Berkane take control of final first leg against Simba SC

RS Berkane beat Tanzania's Simba Sports Club 2-0 on Friday evening in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final, thanks to goals from Mamadou Lamine Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui.

Game over as a contest very early on

From the opening exchanges, Moïne Chaâbani's side seized the initiative to put themselves quickly in control. In the 4th minute, Senegalese defender Mamadou Lamine Camara rose highest of all in the box to power a header home from a corner delivered with precision by El Moussaoui. Just ten minutes after that opener, Berkane underlined their blistering start by doubling the lead in the 14th minute through Oussama Lamlaoui. Two goals inside the first quarter of an hour showed the Moroccans' overwhelming dominance in this first leg.

Read also: CAF Confederation Cup: RS Berkane vs Simba SC, first leg of a final expected to be hard fought

Can Simba limit the damage in the return?

In a one-sided contest, Youssouf Mehri also put the ball in the net shortly after the hour mark (64th minute), but his goal was eventually ruled out after a VAR review. Berkane ran out 2-0 winners and can be pleased to have settled the game so early. After a first-leg display as poor as this one (no shots on target from nine attempts), Simba SC will try on Sunday 25 May, at home in front of their thousands of supporters in Dar es Salaam, to turn the tie around, even though it will be difficult, indeed very difficult, against a Berkane side chasing a third continental title after 2020 and 2022.