Yanga brace for Wiliete test
DAR ES SALAAM: AS the 2025/26 CAF Champions League springs to life with 30 first-leg clashes across the continent, this evening eyes will be fixed on Estádio 11 de Novembro, where Tanzania’s Young Africans SC face off against Angolan challengers, Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela.
It is a stage set for drama, passion and perhaps a touch of magic. On paper, the scale tips are Yanga’s favourites.
They arrived in Angola not just as seasoned campaigners in African football but as undisputed champions of the Tanzania Mainland Premier League – one of Africa’s top four domestic competitions.
Yet, if football has taught us anything, it’s this: the pitch is where reputations are challenged, and new stories are written.
Yanga, draped in their iconic green and yellow, are no strangers to the continent’s grandest nights.
They carry a wealth of experience, a polished squad and a winning mentality forged over countless continental campaigns.
Wiliete, by contrast, are taking their very first steps in the Champions League, a historic debut for a club founded just six years ago, but underestimate them at your peril.
Last season, Wiliete shook up Angolan football with a remarkable second-place finish in the Girabola, Angola’s top-tier league.
They tallied 60 points from 30 matches, registering 18 wins, six draws and six defeats. Their attack delivered 49 goals, while their defence conceded 23—a blend of flair and vulnerability that makes them both exciting and unpredictable.
To stir home support and create a fortress like atmosphere, Wiliete’s management has waived entry fees for tonight’s match.
The stadium is expected to roar in unison behind the underdogs. Meanwhile, Yanga arrived with numbers that speak of dominance.
Yanga’s Media and Communication Manager, Ally Kamwe, confirmed that the squad, along with Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) officials and Yanga executives, arrived safely in Luanda, Angola.
However, he noted that the players were fatigued following the demanding Dar es Salaam derby and the long journey.
ALSO READ: Yanga, Simba on African mission
“We had a good trip from Dar es Salaam, connecting through Ethiopia before arriving here in Angola. The entire delegation—including TFF leaders, Yanga officials, the full technical bench and the playing squad—is safe. The players didn’t have much time to rest after the derby, and by the time we got here, it was around 8 p.m. local time, which is about 10 p.m. back home,” said Kamwe.
He further outlined the training programme, stressing that after a period of rest, the players began recovery sessions yesterday evening. This would be followed by a video analysis session and then a full training session at the match venue.
“The players first get time to rest, then at 6 p.m. we start recovery work here in Luanda. After that, the squad will rest again. Tomorrow will be slightly busier, with around three activities planned. We will hold a video session with the players, followed by field training and the coaches will also attend a press conference. It will be quite a packed day because of the flow of activities,” Kamwe added.
Meanwhile, Yanga goalkeeper Abdul Mshery underlined the importance of their upcoming clash against Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela, urging his teammates to give their all. He also spoke about the healthy competition within the squad, insisting it helps raise individual standards.
“We still need to perform well in this tournament. We are here to fight. Competition in the squad is not a bad thing—if you see the firstchoice goalkeeper excelling, it’s because we, those behind him, are pushing hard to earn the spot. That pressure only makes him continue to showcase his quality,” Mshery said.
Former Yanga player Said Maulid, who accompanies the team revealed that he travelled ahead of the squad to prepare the ground for their arrival.
He expressed gratitude that both the players and the entire delegation reached Angola safely. Yanga’s title defence in the Tanzanian Premier League last season was near flawless, 27 wins, and only one draw and two losses from 30 games.
Their goal tally? A staggering 83, averaging nearly three per match, while conceding just 10. This is a team that scores with ease and defends with ruthless discipline.
With one eye on the second leg set to be held either at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar’s Amaan Complex, Yanga know that a strong performance in Luanda could set the tone for a smooth passage to the next round.
The winner of this two-legged tie will face either Elgeco Plus of Madagascar or Silver Strikers of Malawi in the Second Preliminary Round next month. CAF has sweetened the pot this season.
Teams eliminated in the first two rounds will receive US 100,000 dollars to help offset travel and logistics, a move designed to boost participation, reflected in the record number of clubs registered this year.
The Preliminary Round kicks off with firstleg matches between 19–21 September 2025 and second-leg matches between 26–28 September 2025.
The Second Preliminary Round follows from 17–19 October (first leg) and 24–26 October (second leg). The Group Stage begins on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase set to start on 13 March 2026.
Victory over 180 minutes earns a coveted spot in the next round, edging closer to the group stage and a chance to join Africa’s elite clubs in the chase for the continent’s most prestigious club trophy
