Senegalese pair Mamadou Lamine Camara and Paul Valère Bassène played pivotal roles in RS Berkane’s triumphant CAF Confederation Cup campaign, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory over Simba SC to capture the club’s third title in the competition.
RS Berkane travelled to Dar es Salaam with a commanding 2-0 advantage from the first leg and faced a spirited Simba side determined to mount a comeback in front of their home supporters.
The Tanzanian club struck early, with Joshua Mutale finding the net in the 17th minute, cutting the deficit in half and injecting tension into the final.
Despite the early breakthrough, Simba’s hopes of a historic turnaround began to unravel when midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was shown a red card just five minutes after the restart.
Reduced to ten men, Simba struggled to maintain their attacking momentum, and Berkane gradually regained control of the contest.
The Moroccans, known for their disciplined defensive structure and measured build-up play, capitalised on the numerical advantage to manage the pace of the game.
As Simba pushed forward in search of a second goal, RS Berkane remained resolute, absorbing pressure while waiting for the right moment to strike.
That moment arrived deep into stoppage time.
With the match entering the 93rd minute, Soumaila Sidibé delivered the final blow with a well-taken equaliser, extinguishing any remaining hopes of a Simba comeback and sealing a 1-1 draw on the day — enough to crown RS Berkane champions of the CAF Confederation Cup once again.
For Camara, the title is a second CAF Confederation Cup medal in his career, having already etched his name into the competition’s history with key performances, including a vital goal in the semi-final first leg.
The midfielder’s presence and poise in the heart of Berkane’s line-up proved essential throughout the campaign.
Striker Paul Valère Bassène, meanwhile, capped off a breakout continental season with four goals across 12 appearances, marking his first major club honour.
His contributions added attacking depth to Berkane’s campaign and were instrumental in the club’s path to glory.
The victory not only adds to RS Berkane’s growing continental pedigree — following previous wins in 2020 and 2022 — but also highlights the increasing influence of Senegalese talent in African club football.
Camara and Bassène’s success in this year’s tournament underlines their rising profile and serves as a milestone in their respective careers.
CHAMPIONS. HISTORY. RS BERKANE! 🏆
A historic moment for the Moroccans, winning the 2024/25 #TotalEnergiesCAFCC title! 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/MMiLhQhyM4
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 25, 2025
