Dar es Salaam. Football fans across Tanzania and East Africa are eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated Kariakoo Derby between arch-rivals Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC, set to take place at the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on June 25, 2025.
With the Mainland Tanzania Premier League title at stake, the encounter is shaping up to be one of the most significant matches in Tanzanian football history.
For the first time ever, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) have appointed a team of Egyptian referees to officiate the clash.
Amin Mohamed Amin Omar will take charge as the centre referee, supported by Mahmoud Ahmed Abo El Regal as the first assistant, Samir Gamal Saad Mohamed as the second assistant, and Ahmed Mahrous Elghandour as the fourth official.
All four are highly experienced referees with a strong background in officiating high-level matches across the continent.
Salim Omary Singano from Tanga has been appointed as the match commissioner, while Ali Mohamed from Somalia will serve as the referees’ assessor.
As it stands, Yanga top the table with 79 points, while Simba trail closely behind with 78 points. Both teams have played 29 matches this season.
For Yanga, a draw will be enough to secure their fourth consecutive league title. Simba, however, must win to dethrone their rivals and claim the championship.
Adding to the intrigue are the recent head-to-head statistics. Yanga have dominated the last five league encounters between the two sides, winning four consecutive matches.
The last time Simba triumphed over Yanga was on August 13, 2023, with a narrow 1-0 victory. Since then, Yanga have asserted their dominance in the fixture, registering a stunning 5-1 win on November 5, 2023, a 2-1 win on April 20, 2024, and two successive 1-0 victories on August 8 and October 19, 2024.
This sets the stage for Simba to avenge their recent losses and end their current losing streak.
Historically, today’s fixture marks the 114th league meeting between the two teams since 1965.
In their previous 113 matches, Yanga have recorded 41 victories compared to Simba’s 32, with 40 games ending in draws.
Yanga have scored 121 goals in those encounters, while Simba have netted 105. In terms of accumulated points in head-to-head clashes, Yanga lead with 163, ahead of Simba’s 136.
Coaches share their thoughts
Yanga’s head coach, Miloud Hamdi, will be experiencing his first Kariakoo Derby since arriving in Tanzania. Despite this, he is no stranger to high-pressure matches, having previously coached in derbies with crowds exceeding 120,000.
“This is not my first derby. I’ve coached in massive derbies before, and I won’t feel any pressure. However, I respect my opponents,” said Hamdi.
“All our players are fit and ready, except for Prince Dube, who picked up an injury in our last match against Dodoma Jiji FC at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.”
Hamdi expressed confidence in his squad and called on fans to enjoy the spectacle. “I’m looking forward to a great and exciting match. Fans should come and enjoy the game, not feel stressed,” he added.
Yanga’s assistant captain, Dickson Job, said that their task is to defend the title by achieving the best results.
There were no comments from Simba’s technical bench members ahead of the match.
Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) information officer, Karim Boimanda, said that Simba representatives did not show up for the press conference that was to involve the head coaches or representatives of both teams.
“The first part of the press conference involved Yanga’s head coach and assistant captain, Dickson Job, while the second part was supposed to feature Simba officials, but they did not attend,” said Boimanda.
A continental audience
This year’s Kariakoo Derby has also attracted continental attention, not only due to the stakes involved but also because of the introduction of foreign match officials, a move praised for promoting fairness and professionalism.
The stage is set for a dramatic finish to the NBC Premier League season. With bragging rights, pride, and the championship on the line, the outcome of this epic battle will be remembered for years to come.
