Zanzibar Heroes are the champions of the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup after the hosts defeated guest side Burkina Faso by a 2-1 score in Monday's final to capture the four-team exhibition tournament.
The final was won in dramatic fashion with the match winner arriving in stoppage time courtesy of Hassan Cheda whose volley was the difference for the hosts. Ibrahim Hilika opened the scoring close to halftime after a superb counter attack launched by Zanzibar goalkeeper Yakoub Suleiman.
The Burkinabe team, undefeated through their previous three matches at the competition, managed to fight back in the second half. The Stallions squad composed of players based in the country's domestic football punched back in style when AS SONABEL forward Aboubacar Traoré launched an effort from distance that crashed into the goal off the crossbar.
But Zanzibar continued to display their resilience after previously losing to Burkina Faso in the group stage and sneaking into the final by defeating Kenya on the final day. It appeared penalty kicks would be necessary to determine a winner but Cheda delivered a stroke of genius to secure the trophy in the first minute of stoppage time with a powerful long range strike after Feisal Salum's corner kick was cleared to the edge of the penalty area.
The victory is a massive success for Zanzibar, a nation whose national team is not affiliated with FIFA. Several members of the team who were born in Zanzibar play for Tanzania in FIFA competitions but the occasion of the Mapinduzi Cup permitted them to represent the region where they were born. The tournament provided the first opportunity for the Zanzibar team to compete since 2023.
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