YOUNG Africans Assistant Coach Cedric Kaze said missing out the opportunity to win CAF Confederation Cup title is a motivation for them to do well next season while USM Alger trainer Abdelhak Benchikha cherished his side’s first ever CAF title.
The two teams met at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algeria on Saturday night for the second leg final match of the contest which saw Yanga claiming a 1-0 away win, thanks to the 7th minute-Juma Shabani spot kick.
But, the outcome was too little as it could not help them to secure the diadem as the hosts enjoyed a two-goal away favour.
As such, the envoys have wrapped up the campaign as runners up with their striker Fiston Mayele emerging the competition’s top goal scorer after netting seven goals to his name hence, his value on the transfer market is likely going to double.
Also, goalkeeper Djigui Diarra was voted Man of the Match after his spectacular performance on the night which among other things saw him saving a spot kick midway in the second half to keep his clean sheet intact.
“We have not managed to win the title as we anticipated but this should give us motivation to do much better next season and we have excelled to learn many things throughout the contest.
“We thank our fans for being with us to this date of the competition… their support is always awesome and we are going to bounce back stronger next term,” Kaze said.
His USM Alger counterpart Benchikha was full of joy for steering their team to the championship success saying they have deserved it though they got good competition from their opponents.
“We are happy to win the title, it was not easy for us, but at the end, hard work has given us the good results we were hunting. I congratulate Yanga for their good performance in today’s (Saturday) match, they were better than us, but we have won,” he said.
It is the first time for USM Alger to win the Confederation Cup silverware thereby creating a memorable legacy for the club’s history that will stand the taste of time mainly after claiming it in front of their own supporters.
Meanwhile, after closing the Confederation Cup chapter, Yanga are set to travel to Mbeya region to engage Mbeya City and Tanzania Prisons in their remaining two Premier League matches of the season.
Their last game of the campaign will be against Tanzania Prisons at Sokoine Stadium where they will be presented their 29th Premier League trophy.
