RS Berkane bagged a third CAF Confederation Cup title following a 3-1 aggregate victory over Tanzanian giants Simba SC on Sunday afternoon.
Joshua Mutale, Che Malone, Steven Mukwala and Mohamed Hussein presented the changes for Simba from the first-leg clash, whilst the Moroccan contingent came unchanged.
Fadlu Davids’s men were ahead in the opening-quarter when Mutale bounced at the back-post and thumped in a cross-field delivery from the right-side by Elie Mpanzu Kibisawala.
The host got a chance to double the lead and level it up on aggregate through a free-header by Shomari Kapombe, but the defender went over with the goal gaping.
Berkane missed a golden chance in stoppage time when a towering header by Issoufou Dayo from a corner-kick forced Moussa Camara to scramble across and parried off the goal-line.
Davids’ outfit were on the back-foot five minutes in the second half, after Yusuph Kagoma was sent off following a second bookable offence.
Simba still fashioned out chances later on as Mukwala steered a first-time delivery into the six-yard box inches wide of the intended target.
Mukwala came good in the final minutes as he nodded in a curling free-kick from Fabrice Ngoma, but it was disallowed after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Berkane made a substitution 12 minutes from time and looked to consolidate their slender overall cushion as Mamadou Camara vacated for Soumaila Sidibe.
The move paid dividends three minutes into added time as Sidibe charged onto a loose ball wide of the box and slotted beyond a diving Camara, handing the Berkane the equaliser and the Confederation Cup title.