Yanga’s Khalid Aucho ruled out of CAF CC final against USM Alger

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) midfielder Khalid Aucho will miss both legs of CAF Confederation Cup finals against USM Alger for disciplinary issues after picking six yellow cards.

According to Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, when a player pick six yellow cards, he is required to miss two consecutive matches.

Aucho’s five cards were picked in the CAF Confederation Cup from the group stage and one in the preliminary stages of the CAF Champions League against Al Hilal.

He also picked other yellow cards in the away match against Club Africaine, one against Monastir, one against Rivers United, and two when Yanga played with Marumo Gallants in the semi-finals.

The first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup finals featuring Yanga against USM Alger of Algeria will take place on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

On the other hand, USM Alger and match officials have arrived in the country, according to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer Clifford Ndimbo.

The centre referee is Jean-Jacques Ngmbo Ndala from the DR Congo and will be assisted by Olivier Kabene Safar, also from the DR Congo, and Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela from South Africa.

Kenyan Peter Waweru Kamaku will be in charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and will be assisted by Akhona Makalima of South Africa and Mohamed Ibrahim from Sudan.

Yanga, who recently retained their 29th Mainland Premier League title with two games to play, are in their first ever continental final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Yanga came into the tournament as the less fancied side to reach this stage of the competition.

This season’s edition marks their sixth appearance in the competition, where they have not only for the first time made it past the group stages but have secured a place in the finals.

USM Alger face a highly spirited side who, after having a jittery start, have now found their rhythm and will be going all out to secure their first ever CAF Continental title.

This will be the Algerians’ second attempt at lifting a CAF Interclub competition final having finished as runners-up in the 2015 CAF Champions League, which went the way of TP Mazembe through a 4-1 aggregate loss.

With the Algerian Professional League almost out of reach for them, "USMA" have it all to play for and will be hoping to take home a decent result ahead of the return leg scheduled for June 3 in Algeria.