Yanga target TP Mazembe scalp

YOUNG Africans seek to finish off TP Mazembe in their last group stage match of CAF Confederation Cup at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi, DR Congo today.

The Tanzanian envoys are upbeat to beat again TP Mazembe to consolidate their 3-1 win the sealed in Dar es Salaam where the teams met in the second round of the group stage campaign.

A victory will take Yanga to 13 points, thus making them wind up the group stage mission at the top of group D, their current top priority.

“It is the last match in our group and the fact that we have already qualified does not make us to lose focus because we want to finish the group stage assignments on top of the table.

“The game is going to be difficult…TP Mazembe are a strong team despite failing to qualify for the quarterfinals, we need to show them that we are not easy weak,” said Yanga Assistant Coach Cedric Kaze.

On his part, TP Mazembe coach Mihayo Kazembe insisted that they have learnt their lessons and are all set to digest good results by bagging maximum points.

“Yes, it has been a rough path for us in the competition and this happens in football. We have a new game to play and another chance to stamp success at our territory,” he remarked.

The Jangwani Street giants have had a smooth ride in the group stage of the competition despite kicking off their campaign with a 2-0 defeat from US Monastir in a match played in Tunisia.

After the upset, they regrouped and secured a 3-1 victory over TP Mazembe at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in their first home match which was a turning point for them.

They proceeded to Mali to face Real Bamako where they were held to a 1-1 draw and managed to stamp a 2-0 success over the Malian side in a reverse game in the city.

Thereafter, it was a turn of US Monastir to suffer on Tanzania soil as they returned home win-less and point-less following a 2-0 loss they succumbed to bury their unbeaten record they enjoyed beforehand.

Now, on sniperscope are TP Mazembe who go into the game with heads down after losing their previous group D clash 2-1 to Real Bamako which saw water levels keep rising for them.

As such; TP Mazembe have nothing to lose and will play hard to escape another defeat from the current group D leaders making the match interesting to watch with three points hanging by thread.

Their best results at home in the competition was a 3-1 triumph over Real Bamako which coincidentally is so far their only win from five played matches and have a chance to make it two wins in case they overcome Yanga.