Yanga submits letter of complaint to CAF, calls for investigation

Dar es Salaam. One day after being controversially eliminated from the CAF Champions League quarter-finals in the match against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, Tanzanian football giants Yanga SC have written a letter of complaint to CAF following the disallowed goal scored by Aziz Ki in the 58th minute.

One of the complaints includes the referee, Dehane Beida, disallowing the goal without consulting the VAR.

In the letter that Yanga, who are the Tanzanian Premier League champions making their debut in the knockout stage second leg, wrote through their Legal Director, Simon Patrick, they complained about the referees' failure to use VAR technology to resolve the issue.

They believe and complain under Article XVI that there are indications of match-fixing, including the central referee's failure to go to VAR to review the controversy of the goal despite being able to go to VAR to check the foul by a Yanga player.

In the letter, among other things, Yanga has requested CAF to thoroughly investigate the incident using VAR records and match footage to determine whether there are indications of bias towards Mamelodi.

If bias is confirmed, they request that appropriate action be taken against all involved parties, strict measures be implemented to prevent such incidents in future matches, and any other decisions deemed appropriate by CAF under Article XVI, Section 3 of CAF football regulations.

This official complaint comes on the heels of heavy criticism directed at CAF president and Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe.

Football fanatics, especially Young Africans fans, have aired their grievances, called for a boycott of the tournament, and specifically asked for accountability.

Tanzania's deputy minister for arts, culture, and sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, was also quick to share his sentiments, calling for Yanga to lodge an official complaint, which they have.

The head coach of Yanga SC, Manuel Gamondi, also expressed disappointment in the match officials who handled their second-leg CAF Champions League game against Mamelodi Sundowns.

A frustrated Gamondi turned his post-match press conference into a fiery battlefield, blasting the referee and VAR officials for denying his side what he termed a 'clear goal'.

Unfortunately for the Jangwani Street boys, that error cost them one of the most important games in their history.

After the final whistle, the scoreboard read 0-0, and Sundowns went on to win 3-2 on penalties.

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Rulani Mokwena, praised his team's spirit and resilience following a nerve-wracking win.

Addressing the VAR controversy, Mokwena said, “It's VAR, but I hear him, of course, when you lose, you see some of the situations, but ok, let’s congratulate them for being worthy opponents and for their good run in the Champions League after their good run in the Confederation Cup,” Mokwena commented to SABC Sport post-match.

Sundowns are yet to record a loss on home ground in the Champions League this season. “In a very difficult week, we managed to win two important games. We beat Richards Bay, and we beat Yanga here in the quarter-finals to put ourselves in the semi-finals of the Champions League," Mokwena stated.

As for the outcome of the complaint lodged by Yanga to CAF, only time will tell as the continental football body deliberates on the matter.