The 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup final has been officially moved to Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium, as the continent’s football body took the extraordinary step of changing venue due to technical and weather-related concerns.
The single-match final was originally slated for Dar es Salaam’s National Stadium in Tanzania, but CAF’s international pitch experts determined that ongoing heavy rains – it’s the peak of the rainy season – would leave the Dar es Salaam turf below the standards required for a major continental final.
In a letter to Tanzanian football authorities, CAF explained that the decision was made “purely [for] technical and climatic reasons” to ensure players and fans get the best possible conditions, thanking local officials for understanding the need to adjust plans.
The final will now take place on May 25 at 3:00 PM GMT in Zanzibar, an island that is part of Tanzania but weather-wise offers more favorable conditions.
Interestingly, the Amaan Stadium is a venue Simba SC – one of the finalists – knows well: Simba hosted a quarter-final leg there (winning 1-0) due to renovations at their home ground.
Simba will face Morocco’s RS Berkane in the title match, with Berkane chasing their third Confederation Cup trophy and Simba appearing in their first-ever final.
While some Simba supporters initially lamented losing a final in Dar es Salaam, coach Roberto Oliveira noted that playing in Zanzibar, where Simba already succeeded this campaign, could even be a lucky charm.
CAF’s unprecedented venue swap underscores its commitment to a “final worthy of the name” – prioritizing pitch quality and safety over location, and giving East Africa a unique island setting for its first continental cup final.
