Banner year for Yanga in domestic, CAF missions

AS Young Africans travelled to Algiers for their CAF Confederation Cup final second leg, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lauded them for clinching the 2022/23 Mainland Premier League title.

In a letter to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Wallace Karia, the FIFA president congratulated Young Africans.

“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Young Africans for having been crowned 2022-23 champions of Tanzania!

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This title could not have been achieved without the entire team’s hard work, passion and dedication, and everyone at the club can be very proud.

Please extend my congratulations to everybody involved in this great achievement. On behalf of the entire football community, I also take this opportunity to thank you and your Association for your contribution to the development and prosperity of football in Tanzania and in Africa. I look forward to seeing you again soon.” Young Africans posted the letter on their Instagram handle and humbly thanked the FIFA president.

Yanga, who longs for quadruple silverware after sealing two this season: The community Shield and League title, have chances to win the two other silverware: Caf Confederation Cup and Azam Sports Federation Cup; in each campaign, they are finalists.

Caf Confederation Cup

Young Africans will have a hard fight with USM Alger at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers tomorrow following their 1-2 home defeat at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium last Sunday.

USM Alger lodged goals through Aymen Mahious in the 32nd and Islam Merili in the 84th minute, just after Young Africans had levelled through Fiston Mayle in the 82nd minute. Despite losing the game, Fiston Mayele proved his worth in the CAF Confederation Cup, netting his seventh campaign goal.

Mayele is now sure to claim the tournament’s golden boot as his closest pursuer, Ranga Chivavire, with six goals, is out of the race as his team, Marumo Gallants, have been bundled out of the tournament by Yanga in their semifinal stage.

Mayele’s brilliant goal, Yanga, has been handed a tall order in their return leg with USM Alger in Algiers, as they have to win by a two-goal margin to claim the CAF silverware. Also, the Tanzanian envoys can win the diadem by a one-goal margin if they win 3-2, 4-3 or even 5-4, which gives Yanga an uphill task in Algeria.

Nabi: It’s challenging but possible

Following the defeat, Yanga’s Head Coach Nasreddine Nabi told the press they still had the chance to win the second leg despite the tall order. Nabbi said they still have 90 more minutes to fight and will give it all for the return leg in Algiers.

“There are 90 minutes left, and as long as we still have this chance, there is an opportunity. It is difficult but not impossible. “I can’t promise the supporters I will return with the Cup. But I say, we will fight to turn the tide. We have the means to do this because we have already proven it,” Nabi said.

Nabi made these remarks during the post-conference, where he also insisted his squad’s belief is intact despite their first loss at home. He believes his side can win in Algiers as long as their opponents win away. He has admitted that the mission will be difficult, but he retains trust in his players, who have what it takes to score away and turn the game in their favour.

“We saw that even though USM Alger is very compact defensively, we managed to create a lot of chances. “We had almost 62 per cent possession of the ball against a compact defence and very aggressive players in duels—that’s why I say it is yet done. “On top of that, we have the culture of scoring away from home; hence the most important thing is to keep our heads up and concentrate fully,” Nabbi said.

During the press conference, the counterpart USM Alger Head Coach Abdelhak Benchikha claimed the finals are still underway and believes the second leg might be more intense. He, therefore, exuded the confidence that his side might have. So he added they have mentally and physically prepared for a tough duel that awaits them.

“What matters for us is how we have prepared for the match, and we have to focus on the strengths and abilities of our team. We will also try to counter the opponents’ strengths and capitalise on their weaknesses. We have not come here to defend. “We came to play football, and we will play the same way we will play in Algeria,” the tactician said, speaking in Saturday’s prematch press conference. Following the weight of the competition, President Samia Suluhu Hassan vowed to double her reward on each goal Yanga would score in both the first and second leg final. Just after the first leg was completed, the president fulfilled her promise as she offered Yanga 20m/-.

Apart from the bonus the team received, the Head of State led sports stakeholders in purchasing tickets for supporters. On her side, President Samia bought 5000 tickets. Her support did not conclude; she offered a plane to Algiers.

That would jet the team, officials and several football fans to support the club at their campaign in Algiers.

Tanzania CAF Interclub history

It took Tanzania 30 years to reach the final stage of the CAF-governed tournaments final after the country’s envoys, Young Africans, eliminated Marumo Gallants of South Africa with a brilliant 4-1 aggregate victory at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in South Africa yesterday.

The emphatic qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup likely evokes the 1993 memory when Simba’s maiden entry to the continents second-biggest clublevel tournament.

Qualifying to the final is historical to the Jangwani Street-based side as they have never gone that in their past attempts to reach that far Yanga had a superior run against big clubs such as TP Mazembe, US Monastir, As Bamako, and Rivers United before seeing off Marumo Gallants.

Shocking news

Just after the encounter concluded, through her Instagram handle, the Minister for Health, Ummy Mwalimu, confirmed that 30 fans were injured during a stampede at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium before the kick-off.

“So far, the Temeke Regional Referral Hospital has received 30 people who sustained injuries, and one was pronounced dead,” said the Minister.

“She added that most of those wounded are doing well, with just m i n o r injuries, and are still undergoing medications. Daily News confirmed the deceased was William Mhwani, aged 55. His Uncle Matonya Matobo confirmed the deceased left a widow Neema Hassan and four children. Football fans had the honour of paying their last respect to the late Mhwani at his home place in Chanika, Dar es Salaam on Wednesday before they travelled to Mvumi Mission in Dodoma, where they laid him to rest yesterday.

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