Yanga in thorny TP Mazembe test

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans Head Coach Sead Ramovic has underscored the importance of winning today’s match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s giants, TP Mazembe at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Ramovic called the match a crucial and a must-win one to keep alive hopes of advancing beyond the CAF Champions’ League group stage. He made the comments during yesterday’s pre-match interview, reflecting on their previous encounter with TP Mazembe that ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi, DRC.

The draw was crucial for YANGA, especially after suffering two consecutive 2-0 defeats to Al Hilal and MC Alger.

Securing a late draw against TP Mazembe was a significant morale booster, as it revived their hopes of advancing beyond the group stage. Had they lost, they would have found themselves in a perilous position in the standings. In the press briefing he noted: “This is a crucial match for us. We know we need three points to put ourselves in a better position. We are confident because our recent form has been good and the players are in better shape.” Ahead of today’s match, Ramovic stressed that adopting a more offensive approach is key to overcoming Mazembe.

“Everyone knows my style. We do not want to give our opponents any time to breathe. We are well-prepared and fit to take on Mazembe at a high intensity. I am grateful that my players have started to adapt to the way I want them to play and I expect a fantastic game today,” he explained.

Ramovic moved on to say that today’s match is a fresh challenge. While acknowledging the tough nature of the game, he stressed the importance of applying pressure and focusing on securing a win.

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“It’s a new game and while it will be tough, we are focused on applying pressure and winning. Confidence comes from good preparation and with that, the pressure will not affect us. We believe we can win against TP Mazembe,” he noted.

His counterpart, Lamine Ndiaye, acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained confident in his team’s preparations. “We know Yanga are one of the best teams in Tanzania and this will be a tough match. But we are well-prepared and ready for the challenge,” Ndiaye said.

The coach also noted that both teams would be involved in a high-intensity, physical battle, but he assured that Mazembe had trained adequately to handle it.

“We are ready for the physical demands of the game. Our players are in great shape, and we are all set to fight for a win,” he added.

Currently, Yanga are at the bottom of their group, with Al Hilal of Sudan leading with nine points and MC Algiers of Algeria in second with four points. TP Mazembe sit third with two points, leaving Yanga with limited room for error if they aim to stay in the race for the knockout stages.

As Yanga aim to make their country proud and advance to the quarter-finals, their fellow representatives, Simba, are in Tunisia for their fourth Group A match against CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederation Cup. Simba’s Media and Communication Officer, Ahmed Ally, confirmed the team’s readiness for today’s match, also announcing that Elie Mpanzu has completed his CAF registration and is cleared to feature in Sunday’s game against CS Sfaxien.

“It’s great to know Elie Mpanzu is available to play after his registration for the CAF competition was completed, meaning he may feature in Sunday’s match,” he said.

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Ally also provided an update on Valentin Nouma, who has been unwell and did not participate in Thursday and yesterday’s training sessions.

Additionally, he announced a change in the match venue. The game, originally scheduled to take place in Sfax, will now be played in the country’s capital, Tunis. Simba’s Confederation Cup campaign is heating up, with the team tied on six points with fellow group members CS Constantine and F.C. Bravos do Maquis.

The upcoming match will be crucial, as CS Sfaxien, with slim hopes of survival, must win to keep their quarter-final dreams alive. If they lose, their chances of progressing will be on the brink of collapse.