Azam FC humiliate Coastal Union in Community Shield match
Azam FC players Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum (left) and Gibril Sillar celebrate after scoring against Coastal Union in the Community Shield at the New Amaan Sports Complex on August 8, 2024. Azam FC won 5-2. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The team will face either Young Africans (Yanga) or Simba, the defending Community Shield champions, who play the second semifinal against each other this evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Dar es Salaam. Azam Football Club, on August 8, 2024, qualified for the final of the Community Shield after a commanding 5-2 victory over Coastal Union of Tanga in a thrilling match at the New Amaan Sports Complex in Zanzibar.
The team will face either Young Africans (Yanga) or Simba, the defending Community Shield champions, who play the second semifinal against each other this evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The match started explosively for Azam FC, with Gibril Sillar opening the scoring in the 13th minute with a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area. This early goal intensified the pace of the game, but Coastal Union responded swiftly, equalizing in the 27th minute through Semfuko Charles.
Azam FC regained the lead in the 40th minute when Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum capitalized on a defensive error by Coastal Union, scoring with a sharp shot.
The momentum continued in Azam's favor as Jhonier Blanco added a third goal just a minute before halftime, giving Azam a comfortable lead at the break.
The second half saw Coastal Union push back strongly, creating several scoring opportunities, but their strikers were unable to convert these chances.
Despite their efforts, it was Azam FC who extended their lead, with Adam Adam scoring in the 88th minute, followed by Ever Meza’s goal in stoppage time, sealing the comprehensive victory.
Coastal Union managed to score their second goal in the 86th minute through Abdallah Hassan, but it was too little, too late.
Azam FC’s head coach, Youssoupha Dabo, praised his players for their outstanding performance and expressed confidence in their ability to perform well in the final.
"My players played well and deserve compliments for the victory. We are now waiting for the final match to be held on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium," Dabo said.
On the other hand, Coastal Union's coach, David Ouma, acknowledged the defeat and vowed to address the team's shortcomings before the start of the new season.
"We made mistakes and were punished for them. I have seen various areas that need improvement, and I promise to rectify them before the new season begins," said Ouma.
