ZANZIBAR – The 2026 Mapinduzi Cup is living up to its reputation for high drama after Tanzania’s Simba SC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fufuni SC to book their place in the semifinals.
The “Wekundu wa Msimbazi” had to dig deep at the Amaan Stadium to overcome a resilient Fufuni side that was desperate for a win to keep their own dreams alive.
Simba’s Late Heroics
The match began with a shock as Fufuni SC took an early lead in the 14th minute through Steven Mboni Kibamba, who clinical finish stunned the Simba faithful.
Fufuni’s aggression showed they were not just in the tournament to make up the numbers; they needed a win to qualify and played like a team possessed.
However, Simba’s experience eventually shone through. Hussein Mbegu restored parity in the 23rd minute with a well-taken goal, settling the nerves of the Tanzanian giants.
The game remained a stalemate for the majority of the second half, with Fufuni defending stoutly.
The heartbreak for Fufuni came in the final minute of regulation time. In the 90th minute, Naby Camara popped up to score the winner, sealing a 2-1 victory and confirming Simba’s progression to the knockout stages.
Titanic Semifinal Confirmed
With this result, a blockbuster semifinal has been confirmed: Simba SC vs. Azam FC.
Azam booked their spot earlier in the day after a dramatic 2-1 win over Uganda’s URA FC, a result that unfortunately saw the “Tax Collectors” exit the tournament. The meeting between Simba and Azam is expected to be a “final before the final,” as both teams look to carry their league rivalry onto the Zanzibar stage.
Group C Climax: Yanga SC in Action
The group stage action will reach its peak on Tuesday with a high-stakes encounter in Group B between TRA United and Young Africans (Yanga) SC at the Amaan Stadium.
The qualification scenarios are clear:
Yanga SC: Only need a single point (a draw) to secure their semifinal berth.
TRA United: After their 1-1 draw against KVZ FC, they sit on one point and must win against the “Tiimu ya Wananchi” to leapfrog them and qualify.
Current Mapinduzi Cup Semifinal Outlook:
Qualified:
Azam FC (Group A Winners),
Singida Black Stars (Group A Runners-up),
Simba SC (Group B winners).
Pending: Group C Winner (To be decided Tuesday)
