On April 9, 2025, Simba Sports Club pulled off one of the most stunning comebacks in African club football history, erasing a two-goal deficit to knock out Egypt’s Al Masry SC in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Down 2-0 from the first leg in Egypt, Simba didn’t just equalize—they dominated, then crushed their opponents in a penalty shootout, winning 4-1 to advance to the semifinals for the first time in club history.
A Night of Redemption in Dar es Salaam
It wasn’t just a win. It was a reckoning. Just two minutes into the match, Elie Mpanzu Nkibisawala unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that left Al Masry’s goalkeeper Mahmoud Ahmed rooted. The goal, at the 22nd minute according to ESPN, sent the 60,000-strong crowd into a frenzy. Ten minutes later, Ugandan international Steven Dese Mukwala rose above the defense to head home from close range, making it 2-0. The aggregate was level. The tie was alive.
Al Masry, who had won the first leg 2-0 on April 2, 2025, with goals from Abderrahim Deghmoum (16') and John Ebuka (89'), looked shell-shocked. They barely touched the ball in the second half. Simba’s midfield, led by Luamba Ngoma and Yusuph Kagoma, suffocated their opponents. The Egyptian side, once so composed in Cairo, now looked like ghosts of themselves.
The Penalty Shootout That Made History
When the final whistle blew, the match went to penalties. And that’s when Moussa Camara, Simba’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, became a legend. He saved two penalties—first from El Gohary, then from Abderrahim Deghmoum—both of whom had scored in the first leg. Meanwhile, Simba’s penalty takers were flawless: Jean Charles Ahoua, Steven Mukwala, Kibu Denis Prosper, and Shomari Salum Kapombe all buried their kicks. No nerves. No hesitation. Just ice in their veins.
Al Masry’s miss on their third attempt was the death knell. The Egyptian players collapsed on the turf. The Tanzanian bench erupted. Fans poured onto the pitch, waving flags and singing Swahili chants that echoed through the night. This wasn’t just a victory. It was a cultural moment for Tanzanian football.
Behind the Comeback: Coaching and Culture
"I thank my players for the hard work," said Fadlu Davids, Simba’s head coach, his voice thick with emotion. "After losing the first leg, they knew they had to work harder to qualify. They didn’t just play—they fought with everything they had. This is what Simba SC is made of."
What made this possible wasn’t just talent. It was culture. Simba SC, the most decorated club in Tanzania, had never reached the semifinals of the CAF Confederation Cup. Their last deep run was in 2017, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Since then, they’ve been building—relying on local talent, youth development, and a fierce home advantage. The stadium, packed with over 60,000 fans, wasn’t just a venue—it was a weapon.
What This Means for African Football
Simba’s triumph flips the script on the narrative that African club football is dominated by North African and South African giants. This was a Tanzanian team, with a roster full of homegrown players and a coach who grew up in the country, beating a historic Egyptian side that’s won continental titles before.
It also highlights the growing competitiveness of the CAF Confederation Cup. Once seen as a secondary tournament, it’s now producing shocks that rival the Champions League. Simba’s run, combined with Stellenbosch FC’s gritty 0-0 draw against Zamalek in South Africa on the same day, shows that African football is no longer predictable.
Historical stats underscore the magnitude: since 2018, Simba had never beaten Al Masry in three meetings. They’d scored just two goals total. Now, they’ve not only won once—they’ve overturned a two-goal deficit on the road to the semis.
What’s Next? Semifinals Loom
Simba SC will now face the winner of the Stellenbosch SC (South Africa) vs. Zamalek SC (Egypt) tie. That second leg, also played on April 9, ended 0-0 in Cape Town, meaning Zamalek holds the slight advantage heading into Cairo. But don’t count out Stellenbosch. They’ve already defied expectations.
The semifinals are set for late April 2025, with legs scheduled across Africa. Simba’s home advantage will be immense. If they can replicate this performance, they’re not just contenders—they’re favorites.
Key Stats That Tell the Story
- Simba SC’s second-leg win: 2-0 (aggregate 2-2)
- Penalty shootout result: Simba SC 4-1 Al Masry SC
- Goalscorers: Elie Mpanzu (22'), Steven Mukwala (32')
- Goalkeeper saves in shootout: Moussa Camara (2)
- Simba’s last five matches: 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses — 2.8 goals scored per game
- Al Masry’s last five matches: 1 win, 4 draws, 0 losses — 1.0 goals scored per game
Frequently Asked Questions
How significant is Simba SC’s semifinal appearance?
This is Simba SC’s first-ever semifinal in the CAF Confederation Cup, making it the deepest run by any Tanzanian club in the competition’s history. Before this, their best was the 2017 quarterfinals. They’ve now joined only a handful of East African teams to reach this stage, including Gor Mahia and KCB FC, but none have gone further.
Who were the key players in the comeback?
Elie Mpanzu opened the scoring with a powerful long-range shot, while Steven Mukwala’s header sealed the win. But the real hero was goalkeeper Moussa Camara, who saved two penalties and inspired his team with calm leadership. Midfielders Luamba Ngoma and Yusuph Kagoma controlled the tempo, neutralizing Al Masry’s attacks despite being under constant pressure.
Why did Al Masry struggle so much in the second leg?
Al Masry came into the match overconfident after their 2-0 first-leg win. They failed to adapt to Simba’s aggressive pressing and the deafening home crowd. Their midfield was outmuscled, and their attackers were isolated. Two missed penalties in the shootout—especially Deghmoum’s, who scored in the first leg—showed a collapse in composure under pressure.
What does this mean for Tanzanian football?
It’s a watershed moment. Simba’s success proves that with proper investment in youth, coaching, and home support, Tanzania can compete at the continental level. The win has already sparked a surge in local interest, with ticket sales for the semifinal already surpassing 80,000 requests. It could also attract more sponsorships and media deals for the Tanzanian Premier League.
Who is Simba SC’s next opponent?
They’ll face the winner of Stellenbosch SC and Zamalek SC. Zamalek holds a slight edge after the 0-0 draw in South Africa, but Stellenbosch’s resilience makes them dangerous. Simba will likely face Zamalek in the semis, given their superior pedigree. But in football, anything can happen—and Simba has already proven they’re not afraid of giants.
How did fans react to the victory?
Tens of thousands flooded the streets of Dar es Salaam after the final whistle. Social media exploded with #SimbaRises trending across Africa. Local businesses closed early to celebrate. One fan, 68-year-old Mwanaidi Mwakalile, told reporters: "I’ve waited 50 years to see Simba in the semis. I thought I’d die without seeing it. Tonight, I danced with my grandchildren. That’s worth more than any trophy."
Samba Alassane Thiam
Man, Simba just turned Dar es Salaam into a war zone in the best way possible. You could hear the chants from space.
Lauren Eve Timmington
This isn’t just football. This is African identity rising up. A Tanzanian club, built on local talent, outworking and outthinking a historic Egyptian powerhouse? That’s the future right there. No more pretending only North Africa or South Africa matters. Simba didn’t just win-they rewrote the script.
That crowd? 60,000 people screaming like the world was ending? That’s not noise-that’s ancestral energy. Every kid in Tanzania watching this now knows they don’t need to leave home to be great.
And Camara at 40? Saving two penalties from guys who scored in the first leg? That’s not luck. That’s wisdom. That’s decades of grit distilled into one night. He didn’t just stop shots-he stopped doubt.
Al Masry came in with a trophy mindset. Simba came in with a revolution. And the difference? Culture. Simba’s players grew up on these pitches, in these streets. They didn’t just play for a club-they played for a legacy.
The stats say it all: three losses to Al Masry since 2018, two goals total. Now? Two goals in one night, and a shootout win. That’s not a comeback. That’s a reckoning.
And don’t sleep on the midfield. Ngoma and Kagoma didn’t just defend-they suffocated. They turned Al Masry’s game plan into a funeral march. No space. No rhythm. Just pressure. That’s coaching. That’s heart.
This is bigger than trophies. It’s about proving that African football isn’t about who has the biggest budget-it’s about who has the biggest soul. Simba didn’t just reach the semis. They made the continent look in the mirror.
And now? The world’s watching. Sponsorships will flood in. Youth academies will explode. This isn’t just a win-it’s the spark that lights up East African football for a generation.
I’ve watched African club football for 20 years. This is top five. Top three, honestly. I’m not crying. You’re crying.
Shannon Carless
lol simba won. cool. 🤷♀️
JIM DIMITRIS
bro that goalkeeper was ancient and still out here saving penalties like he’s got magic in his gloves 😍
Wendy Cuninghame
Let’s be honest-this was orchestrated. The stadium capacity? Too perfect. The timing? Suspicious. Al Masry’s collapse? Too convenient. There’s no way a team with zero continental pedigree defeats a historical giant without external influence. Who benefits from this narrative? Who funds Simba? Who controls the CAF? The real story is being buried.
Angie Ponce
Of course Tanzania won. They always do when the referee is biased and the crowd is a mob. Al Masry was robbed. This isn’t football-it’s chaos dressed as culture.
will haley
Imagine being 68 and finally seeing your team in the semis… then dying happy. I’m not okay. I need a minute.
Laura Hordern
Okay, I need to take a breath. This wasn’t just a match-it was a symphony. The way the crowd swelled after Mpanzu’s goal? Like a tidal wave of pride. And then Mukwala’s header? Pure poetry in motion. That ball didn’t just hit the net-it hit every Tanzanian’s soul. And Camara? At 40, he didn’t just save penalties-he saved the dignity of a nation that’s been overlooked for decades. I watched this on my phone in my pajamas at 3 a.m. and I screamed so loud my cat ran out of the room. This is why we love football. Not because of the money or the stars, but because of moments like this-where the underdog doesn’t just rise, they become a legend. And now? The whole continent is watching. The CAF Confederation Cup? It’s no longer the B-league. It’s the place where dreams don’t just happen-they explode.
And the best part? No one saw this coming. Not the pundits, not the analysts, not even the most optimistic Simba fan. But the people? The ones who showed up with drums and flags and tears in their eyes? They knew. They always knew.
Now imagine if this was broadcast on every major network. Imagine if every kid in Zanzibar, Mwanza, Arusha-every kid who’s ever been told they’re too small, too poor, too far away-saw this and thought, ‘Maybe I can do that too.’ That’s the real win. Not the semifinal. Not the trophy. But the hope.
I’m not even Tanzanian. But tonight, I felt like I was. And that’s the power of sport.
Benjamin Gottlieb
This is a textbook case of emergent cultural hegemony in postcolonial African sports infrastructure. Simba’s victory destabilizes the Eurocentric hierarchy of continental football, where North African and South African clubs have historically monopolized symbolic capital. The psychological disintegration of Al Masry under home pressure represents a Foucauldian rupture-the gaze of the crowd becoming an apparatus of discipline that inverts power dynamics. Camara’s saves weren’t athletic feats; they were epistemic interventions. Each penalty save was a refusal of colonial temporality-the idea that ‘older’ nations (Egypt) inherently possess superior institutional legitimacy. Simba’s youth academy model, rooted in localized epistemologies, outperformed Al Masry’s extractive, transactional recruitment. This isn’t just a football match. It’s a decolonial performance.
The aggregate scoreline (2-2) is statistically neutral, but the phenomenological weight of the second leg is asymmetrical. The crowd’s sonic density-60,000 voices-functioned as a collective unconscious amplifier, disrupting Al Masry’s cognitive bandwidth. Their midfield collapse wasn’t tactical-it was ontological. They were unmoored from their own narrative of superiority.
And now? The semifinal becomes a site of contested memory. If Simba faces Zamalek, it’s not just a match-it’s the reclamation of African football’s soul from its former imperial centers. The CAF Confederation Cup is no longer a secondary tournament. It’s the crucible where African futurity is being forged.
Angela Harris
cool game
Carolette Wright
why is everyone crying? it’s just a game
Andrew Malick
Did anyone else notice how the referee didn’t give a single yellow card to Simba’s midfield despite constant fouling? And how Al Masry’s players looked like they were sleepwalking? Something’s off. I’ve seen too many African matches where the home team gets all the calls. Not saying it’s fixed-but it’s… suspicious.
Doloris Lance
Let’s not glorify this. Simba won because of crowd intimidation and biased officiating. Al Masry played with discipline and control. This is what happens when football becomes a political spectacle. The CAF should investigate. This isn’t sport-it’s propaganda.
Lucille Nowakoski
Everyone’s talking about the goals and the penalties, but let’s not forget the kids who stayed after the match to clean up the stadium. That’s the real heart of Simba. No fame, no spotlight-just pride. That’s the culture that wins championships.
Brittany Vacca
So… Simba won? 😊 That’s awesome!! I’m so happy for them!! 🙌
Patrick Scheuerer
As the author of this post, I just want to say: thank you. This isn’t just about football. It’s about what happens when a community believes in itself. The players didn’t just play for a trophy-they played for every kid who was told they’d never make it. That’s the real win.