Yanga open for any CL last-8 opponent

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans have disclosed that they are mentally well prepared to face any opponent in the CAF Champions League (CAF CL) quarterfinals.

Yanga alongside Simba marched into the last eight of the competition to represent Tanzania which has become the only country which has managed to deploy two teams in the knockout stage of a major continental inter-club competition.

Yanga and Simba are both waiting to know their opponents in the Quarter-Final draw for the 2023/24 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup to be held in Cairo, Egypt next Tuesday, March 12th.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Yanga’s Media and Communication Manager Ally Kamwe said they are anxiously waiting for the draw.

“According to the available regulations, three teams we expect to face are ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Atletico Petroleos from Angola. “

The technical bench and players are psychologically ready to welcome any opponent because the named three teams are not easy to beat, they all topped their respective groups.

“As such, any team that comes forward we are courageously ready to face them… we are ready to compete for our club and fly our national flag high,” Kamwe said.

He continued: “Our initial target in the competition was to reach the group stage and God has helped us, we are now in the quarter-finals and here, we have set another target which is to step into the semi-finals. “

We believe we can reach the last four based on the quality of the team we have which gave us the confidence that we can battle against any opponent,” he said.

Concerning their back to back four Premier League matches, he pointed out that they are all important matches to annex maximum points to keep climbing up the ladder.

“In the league, we are aware of the importance of the 12 points in the next four premier league duels and as you know, the title race is wide open hence we have to take each game seriously,” he said.

Tomorrow, Yanga face Namungo at Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi before hosting Ihefu at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on March 11th.

Then on March 14th, they host Geita Gold at the same venue before locking horns versus Azam in a duel dubbed ‘Dar es Salaam Derby’ encounter on March 17.