Yanga sack Coach Folz after CAF defeat

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans have parted ways with their Head Coach, Romain Folz, following a disappointing away 1-0 defeat against Malawi’s Silver Strikers in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi on Saturday.

The decision to relieve Folz off his duties was announced through an official statement on the club’s Instagram account.

Assistant Coach Patrick Mabedi has been appointed as the caretaker manager while the club searches for a permanent replacement.

In a post-match interview, Folz appeared visibly frustrated, delivering sharp and cryptic responses when questioned about the team’s performance.

Dismissing suggestions that the absence of key players contributed to the defeat, he stated, “It’s not a reason.”

When pressed about fans’ frustrations, his terse reply, “There will be no answer today,” seemed to foreshadow the impending decision regarding his future.

The defeat has put Young Africans in a challenging position for the return leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where they must secure a victory by at least two goals to progress to the next round.

This loss not only provided Silver Strikers with a notable victory but also stirred chaos within the Yanga camp, leading to Folz’s dismissal just hours after the match concluded.

Guided by manager Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa, Silver Strikers executed their game plan with precision, successfully frustrating their illustrious visitors throughout the match.

Mwafulirwa explained, “You can’t give Yanga space once they start to play around. They’ll finish you. We knew the only way to survive was to stay tight and deny them rhythm.”

He noted that tactical adjustments were made in response to on-field dynamics, stating,

“We made changes when we saw a vacuum and it worked to our plan. We are facing giants we can’t underrate, but we fought with all we have got.”

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Elsewhere, Azam FC enjoyed a successful outing in Zanzibar, securing a commanding 2-0 away victory over KMKM at the Amaan Complex.

Yahaya Said opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a clever pass from Faisal Salum, setting the tone for the match. Pascal Msindo doubled the lead with a stunning free-kick in the 41st minute.

Azam’s coach, Florent Ibenge, praised his side’s dominance but expressed concerns about their finishing.

“We created many chances but used few,” he commented.

“It’s a good thing Pascal scored at the right moment. A good player, a good goal, at a good time.”

KMKM’s Head Coach, Hababuu Ali, acknowledged that the early goal unsettled his team but vowed to mount a stronger challenge in the return leg at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

As the tournament progresses, both Yanga SC and Azam FC will be looking to build on their respective performances as they aim for success in the CAF Champions League.