Tanzania’s envoys in next CAF competitions to face tricky tests

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland’s envoys in the continental club championships face tricky fixtures following yesterday’s draw of the African football governing body (CAF).

According to the draw, Young Africans (Yanga), who will compete in the CAF Champions League, will launch their campaign away against Vital’O of Burundi.

The winner of the match will face the victor between SC Villa of Uganda and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Azam FC, also competing in the CAF Champions League, will host APR of Rwanda in the first leg. If they win, they will play against the winner between JKU of Zanzibar and Pyramids FC of Egypt.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Simba, who will start in the second preliminary round, will play against the winner between Uhamiaji of Zanzibar and a team from Libya.

Also, in this category, Coastal Union of Tanzania Mainland will launch their campaign away against Bravos of Angola.

The winner will face FC Lupopo of DR Congo in the second preliminary round.

The fixtures indicate that the first legs of the CAF Champions League are scheduled to be held between August 16 and 18, while the return legs between August 23 and 25.

The fixtures also show that the second preliminary round matches are scheduled to be held from September 13 to 15, with the return legs a week later.

The group stage will start in October and run until February next year.

Speaking with The Citizen, legendary football tactician Charles Boniface Mkwasa said both teams need to take all the matches seriously, explaining that football has advanced in many countries.

Mkwasa emphasized that despite Yanga playing against Vital’O, they should not underestimate them, given the advancement of football nowadays.

He explained that Yanga should not expect easy matches, as each team will be aiming for success in the competition.

“Even in the second-round match (if Yanga eliminate Vital’O), they will have to be very keen, as SC Villa of Uganda or Commercial Bank of Ethiopia are good teams that will also aim for success in the competition,” said Mkwasa.

Regarding Azam FC, Mkwasa said that the ice-cream makers need to prove their worth by eliminating APR and Pyramids FC of Egypt to qualify for the group stage.

“APR are familiar with Tanzanian teams and are good.

“Pyramids FC are one of the emerging teams in the continental club championships, so playing with determination is the only solution to qualify for the group stages,” he said.

Concerning Simba, Mkwasa said they need to be cautious even if they play against the winner between Uhamiaji of Zanzibar and a Libyan team.

“Uhamiaji FC are new entrants in the competition, but the challenge comes from the Libyan team that is yet to be known,” he said.

For Coastal Union, Mkwasa, who is also a former national team player, said they will have to show their prowess against the tough Angolan side, Bravos.

“Angolan teams are always tough. I have witnessed many teams playing in the continental club championships and doing their best.

“My advice to all teams is to utilize their home ground well, whether they start at home or away,” he said.

Tanzania Mainland is among 12 countries that will field four teams in the continental club championships with two in the CAF Champions League and two others in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The 12 countries have earned that status after two teams in each country had performed well in the CAF competitions.

For the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League, the African football governing body has used its 2019–2023 five-year ranking, which calculates points for each entrant association based on their clubs’ performance over those five years in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.