Yanga meet Rivers United in crucial CAF Cup encounter
Young Africans (Yanga) players during the past training session at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The team today host Rivers United of Nigeria in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup at the same venue. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The Yanga-Rivers match, which will be officiated by Moroccan referees, has been scheduled to kickoff at 7pm and Yanga need any draw in order to qualify for the semifinals of the competition
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania football giants, Young Africans (Yanga), today clash with Nigeria’s Rivers United in the second leg of the quaterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The other envoys of Tanzania in the CAF Champions League, Simba SC, were eliminated on Friday by the defending champions, Wydad Athletic Club, on 4-2 penalties at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Yanga-Rivers match, which will be officiated by Moroccan referees, has been scheduled to kickoff at 7pm and Yanga need any draw in order to qualify for the semifinals of the competition.
Referee Redouane Jiyed will be at the centre of the pitch and will be assisted by Lahcen Azgaou and Mostafa Akarkad while a reserve referee is Jalal Jayed. Yanga won 2-0 in the first leg held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria and both goals were scored by Fiston Mayele. The match is very crucial for the Jangwani Street side who target to make history for qualifying for the semis for the first time.
Despite the 2-0 away win, Yanga head coach Nasreddine Nabi said they are taking the encounter seriously and target victory in order to enter the semis of the prestigious tournament.
Nabi said all of his players are in good shape to produce a good result in the encounter and that the players are aware of their commitment to the encounter in which they have promised to fight hard and come out with a good result.
“This is the most crucial match of ours in the competition. We need to stretch our muscles in order to enter the semis of the tournament. We are half way and we will have to be very keen throughout the match,” said Nabi.
He said Rivers are a strong team that they do not underestimate following their 2-0 victory in the first leg. Should Yanga eliminate the Nigerians, they will face the winners between Pyramids of Egypt and Marumo Gallants of South Africa. Other matches in the competition involve AS FAR) against USM Alger and the hosts Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast against US Monastir of Tunisia.
According to the fixtures, semifinal matches have been scheduled to take place on May 14 for the first leg matches, and second leg matches have been scheduled to take place on May 20 and 21, while the final match will be held on May 28, for the first leg match and June 3, for the return leg match, respectively.
