Yanga, Coastal Union vie for Federation Cup last 16 spot
Africans (Yanga) players during a training session. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The match is expected to be a thrilling one, and Coastal Union aims for revenge against Yanga, who are the defending champions of the competition.
Dar es Salaam. Football giants Young Africans (Yanga) Club today face the acid test against Coastal Union of Tanga in the CRDB Federation Cup match at the KMC Complex.
The match is scheduled to start at 4pm, with each team targeting victory to qualify for the top 16 teams in the knockout competition.
The match is expected to be a thrilling one, and Coastal Union aims for revenge against Yanga, who are the defending champions of the competition.
Yanga have been dominant in the competition, having won the title four times since rejoining the tournament in 2015.
The Jangwani Street giants also have the best head-to-head record against Coastal Union, having won most of their encounters since 2011.
Records show that the two teams have played 23 times, with Yanga winning 15 matches, Coastal Union securing three victories, and five matches ending in draws in all competitions.
On October 26 last year, Yanga recorded a 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal scored by Jean Baleke in the Mainland Premier League match at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium.
Coastal Union also still remembers the competition’s final held on July 2, 2022, at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha. The match saw Yanga come from behind to level the score at 3-3 after 120 minutes and later win the title with a 4-1 penalty shootout victory.
The match will be the first in the competition for Yanga’s Algerian-French tactician, Miloud Hamdi, since he joined the team on February 4, 2025. Hamdi, who replaced German tactician Sead Ramovic who joined Algerian giants CR Belouizdad has led the team only in Mainland Premier League matches and is determined to do his best in this duel.
“We need to be very keen in the match as we are facing one of the toughest teams in the competition. We have trained well, and we are confident of performing our best,” said Hamdi.
For his part, Coastal Union head coach Juma Mwambusi said that they are taking the match seriously and are targeting victory despite facing tough opposition.
“It will be a tough match, but my players have undergone intensive training, and I believe they will give their best in the encounter,” said Mwambusi.
He added that his players are in high spirits and believes they will not let him down in the encounter.
The winner will join other teams, namely Simba, Pamba Jiji FC, Mbeya Kwanza, Songea United, Mtibwa Sugar, Giraffe Academy, Mashujaa, JKT Tanzania, Tabora United, KMC, Bigman FC, Mbeya City, Singida Black Stars and Stand United.
