TANZANIA: WITH the fate of their CAF Inter club campaigns hanging in the balance, Tanzanian and Zanzibari teams are gearing up for a decisive weekend of return leg matches.
Former players and experts alike are urging these teams to draw on their resilience and determination as they face uphill battles to secure advancement in their respective competitions.
Young Africans, leading with a commanding 4-0 from their first leg, will host Burundi’s Vital’O at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Their commanding lead makes them favourites to progress to the next round of the CAF Champions League (CAF CL).
In contrast, Azam FC will face a tougher task as they take on Rwandan giants APR at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday.
The Chamazi based side carries a narrow 1-0 advantage from their first-leg win at Azam Complex and will need to be on their best form to secure progression.
Coastal Union, competing in the CAF Confederation Cup (CAF CC), finds themselves in a more precarious position.
They will host FC Bravos of Angola at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, needing to overturn a daunting 3-0 deficit from the first leg in Angola.
For Zanzibar, the challenge is even steeper. JKU faces an uphill battle as they attempt to overturn a massive 6-0 first leg deficit against Pyramids FC at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt on Saturday.
Uhamiaji FC also faces a tough road ahead, playing Al Ahly Tripoli at Tripoli International Stadium in Libya with a 2-0 first leg loss to reverse.
Former Milambo FC goalkeeper Said Bundala shared his insights, stating, “Young Africans hold a significant advantage with their 4-0 lead over Vital’O and are likely to advance.
Azam FC’s 1-0 lead is more precarious; they must remain vigilant and respect their opponents to secure their place in the next round. ” Bundala continued.
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“Coastal Union faces a challenging task. They need a significant turnaround in performance and confidence to bridge their 3-0 deficit.”
Ex-African Sports striker Said Seif observed that Zanzibar’s teams, JKU and Uhamiaji, fell short in their preparations for the CAF matches.
“This season’s experiences highlight the need for better preparation.
While advancing to the next round seems unlikely, football’s unpredictability means anything can happen.”
Football fan Julius Mchomvu echoed a sentiment of hope: “Football is a game of 90 minutes and anything can happen.
Teams should remain hopeful and strive to rectify the mistakes from the first leg.
There’s always a chance to turn things around.”
