Rectify mistakes before next CAF fixtures, Yanga, Simba told

Young Africans (Yanga) defender Kouassi Attoula Yao (left) vies for the ball against CD Belouizdad during the CAF Champions League match at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria. CD Belouizdad won 3-0. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • Yanga will face a challenging encounter against African giants Al Ahly of Egypt at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium next Saturday at 10pm while Simba, on the other hand, will play away against Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana at Botswana's National Stadium at 4pm.

Dar es Salaam. Football tacticians in the country are optimistic that the giants, Young Africans (Yanga), and Simba can bounce back on a winning note in the next fixtures of the CAF Champions League.

Last weekend, the ongoing CAF Champions League witnessed a mixed start for the two Tanzanian football giants, Yanga and Simba.

Last Friday, Yanga faced a formidable challenge against CD Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad, alias CD Belouizdad of Algeria, at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 and suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat.

Simultaneously, Simba hosted Asec Mimosas at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and managed to secure a 1-1 draw at the home venue.

Despite the initial setbacks, renowned football tactician Kenny Mwaisabula expressed confidence that both teams would do their best in the upcoming fixtures.

Mwaisabula's reassurance is a beacon of hope for the clubs' members and fans, as they look forward to a resurgence in the tournament.

Yanga will face a challenging encounter against African giants Al Ahly of Egypt at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium next Saturday at 10pm while Simba, on the other hand, will play away against Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana at Botswana's National Stadium at 4pm.

 Al Ahly, having won 3-0 against Medeama of Ghana, currently lead Group D standings with three points, while CD CD Belouizdad. The upcoming matches carry significant weight for both Yanga and Simba. Yanga are in dire need of a victory to secure crucial points in the group, while Simba also target victory in Group B.

 Jwaneng Galaxy's impressive 1-0 away victory against Wydad Club Athletic of Morocco adds an extra layer of competition to the mix. Mwaisabula said that the technical benches of both clubs need to rectify all mistakes that caused the teams to record disappointing results. He asserted that addressing these errors are pivotal to making the subsequent matches easier and, more importantly, to making the Tanzanian fans proud.

Drawing parallels to last year's campaign, where Yanga rebounded from an initial setback, Mwaisabula reminded everyone that a single loss doesn't spell elimination from the competition.

 "Losing one match does not imply that you are eliminated from the competition. What you are required to do is rectify mistakes and play with determination in the remaining matches," he said.

The seasoned coach's words resonate with the resilience needed in continental competitions, where every match presents an opportunity for redemption.

Abel Mtweve, another coach, echoed Mwaisabula's sentiments, emphasizing that it's too early to predict the teams that will qualify for the knockout stages.

Mtweve urged players to focus on giving their best in the upcoming matches.

Assessing all the teams in their respective groups, Mtweve believes that Tanzanian teams can excel and advance to the knockout stages with committed and determined performances.