Yanga, Simba fight to make fans proud on quarter-finals berth

THE CAF inter-club competitions are heating up as Tanzanian giants, Young Africans and Simba push toward the coveted quarter-finals.

Both teams face distinct challenges that make their paths to qualification difficult and uncertain. Yanga, competing in the CAF Champions League, and Simba, participating in the CAF Confederation Cup, will need to overcome significant hurdles in their remaining group-stage fixtures to keep their hopes alive.

With just three matches left in the group stage, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown. These upcoming games will determine which teams advance to the quarter-finals and which will fall short.

Let’s rally behind them as they fight for a spot in the quarter-finals! There is a substantial advantage if both teams excel in the CAF inter-club quarters.

This success not only benefits the clubs but also contributes to the nation by adding points to a five-year club ranking. In the CAF Champions League, points are awarded based on how far teams progress in the tournament. Winners earn six points, while runners-up receive five points. Semi-finalists are awarded four points and quarter-finalists gain three points.

Teams finishing third in the group stage earn two points, while those in fourth place receive one point. Similarly, in the CAF Confederation Cup, the point system mirrors that of the Champions League: winners earn five points, runners-up receive four points, semi-finalists get three points and quarter-finalists are awarded two points.

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Teams finishing third in the group stage earn one point, while those in fourth place receive 0.5 points. These points are crucial in determining the rankings of African football associations and the number of teams they can send to future competitions.

Currently, Tanzania holds an impressive sixth place with 60 points in the CAF 5-Year Ranking, covering the period from the 2020/21 season to the 2024/25 season.

This remarkable achievement reflects the outstanding performances of our clubs over the past five years. Simba has contributed a significant 30.5 points, while Yanga have added 29 points, showcasing the growing strength and consistency of Tanzanian football on the continental stage.

This is a great advantage for the nation, as the top 12 ranked countries are allowed to send two teams to each competition, while countries ranked lower can only send one team per competition. Tanzania has consistently sent two teams in each competition year after year.

The task ahead for Simba and Young Africans is daunting but essential. Winning a ticket to the quarter-finals comes with significant benefits, allowing Tanzania to continue sending two teams to the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Young Africans find them in a precarious situation this season in the CAF Champions League. After three matches, they are at the bottom of their group with just a single point, following two losses and one draw. Their performances have been below expectations, suffering losses against Al Hilal (2-0) at home and MC Alger (2-0) away, while managing only a draw against TP Mazembe (1-1) away on the road.

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The chances for progression to the quarterfinals are slim and the road ahead looks challenging. The situation is grim for Young Africans, especially considering the current standings. Al Hilal are in a commanding position with nine points and if they win any of their remaining matches, they will cement their place in the quarter-finals.

MC Alger, with four points, are in a relatively strong position as well, and TP Mazembe, with two points, still have a slim chance of advancing.

For Young Africans to qualify, they need to win all three of their remaining matches, which would give them 10 points. However, even if they win all their games, they will still need other results to go in their favour, as TP Mazembe and MC Alger would need to falter.

In particular, MC Alger’s situation presents a major hurdle: if they win all their remaining games, they will finish with 13 points and no one in the group will be able to surpass them. TP Mazembe, with a potential 11 points if they win all their games, will also have the advantage over Young Africans.

This means that for Yanga to advance, they need a perfect performance from themselves and hope that other teams drop crucial points. One of the key issues for Yanga has been their defence, particularly their inability to cope with aerial threats and counter-attacks.

In their losses to Al Hilal and MC Alger, Yanga conceded goals from headers, resulting from long balls. In the match against MC Alger, all two goals came from aerial attacks, while another goal against TP Mazembe came via a counter-attack. This shows a weakness in their defensive organisation and positioning, which must be addressed if they are to improve their chances.

To address these challenges, Yanga must focus on improving their defensive shape and discipline. Yanga have struggled in attack. Despite creating opportunities, they have failed to convert them, missing several chances during their matches. Their finishing has been below par and in critical moments they have failed to capitalise on their possession.

This lack of clinical finishing has cost them dearly, especially in games where they were the dominant side for stretches but failed to find the back of the net. In attack, Yanga need to work on their finishing and composure in front of goal.

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More clinical finishing is required and players must be confident in taking shots on target. Psychologically, the team must maintain resilience, especially in the second half. They have conceded goals late in games, such as in the 60th and 90th minutes, indicating a lack of focus or fatigue.

On the other side, Simba’s performance in the CAF Confederation Cup has been mixed. With six points from three matches, Simba are still in a strong position to progress to the knockout stages, but their defensive lapses could cost them if not addressed promptly.

In Simba’s match against CS Constantine, they conceded two goals within the first five minutes of the second half, including an own goal. In their game against CS Sfaxien, a defensive blunder led to a goal being conceded after a poor back-pass to the goalkeeper, which was intercepted by the opposition and punished. Against Bravo do Maquis, despite not conceding, Simba were nearly punished when they committed a foul inside the penalty box, but goalkeeper Moussa Camara saved the penalty.

These errors highlight a lack of concentration and defensive discipline, especially in critical moments of the game. Such lapses could be fatal as Simba progress in the tournament and they need to address these vulnerabilities before they cost them more points.

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Simba’s coaching staff should focus on improving defensive communication and organisation, especially in set-piece situations and when transitioning from attack to defence.

The team needs to cut out errors that leave the defence exposed and make sure that individual mistakes do not affect the overall defensive structure. Ensuring that players maintain concentration for the full 90 minutes will be vital, as lapses in focus have been costly.

Offensively, while Simba have been effective at creating chances, they must focus on being more ruthless in front of goal.