Aucho, Mzize boost Yanga ahead of MC Alger clash

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) fans and members have a reason to celebrate as midfield maestro Khalid Aucho and prolific striker Clement Mzize rejoin the squad ahead of their CAF Champions League second group stage match against Algeria’s MC Alger.

Yanga will face MC Alger on Saturday at the Ali La Pointe Stadium in Douera, Algeria from 10pm East Africa Time. The duo’s return come as a significant boost for Yanga, who are determined to bounce back after a disappointing start to their group stage campaign.

The two players had been sidelined due to injuries sustained during their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers with their respective national teams. Aucho represented Uganda’s national team, The Cranes, while Mzize was in action for Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

Injury recovery

Following their injuries, both players were initially advised to take a two-week recovery period. Now, in the lead-up to Saturday’s match, Aucho and Mzize have resumed partial training sessions, indicating progress in their recovery.

A reliable source from Yanga revealed that the technical bench, led by head coach Sead Ramovic, will assess the players' readiness before deciding whether they will feature in the crucial match.

“The two players have been included in the squad traveling to Algiers. Their training progress is encouraging, but their participation in the starting lineup will depend on their fitness and the technical bench's assessment,” the source disclosed.

Injury setbacks for other players

While Aucho and Mzize's return is positive news, Yanga will still be without two key players namely, Shadrack Boka and Aziz Andambwile who have not recovered from their respective injuries.

“Boka is in a Plaster of Paris (POP) after sustaining a serious injury, and Andambwile is still undergoing recovery. Unfortunately, neither player will travel with the team to Algiers,” said the source.

However, there is relief for Yanga in the form of Dickson Job, who suffered a minor injury in the league match against Namungo FC. Job has been declared fit and is expected to be available for selection.

Group A standing

Yanga are scheduled to depart Dar es Salaam tomorrow via an Emirates flight, carrying the hopes of their passionate fanbase. The club finds itself in a challenging position at the bottom of Group A, having failed to secure a point in their opening match against Al Hilal of Sudan.

The Sudanese side lead the group with three points following their 2-0 victory over Yanga at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Meanwhile, MC Alger and TP Mazembe of DR Congo occupy the second and third spots in the group, each with a single point after playing out a 1-1 draw in their opener.

Must-win situation

The stakes could not be higher for Yanga in Saturday’s encounter. A victory is crucial to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive. A loss or draw would further complicate their chances in the highly competitive group.

Head coach Sead Ramovic is expected to craft a tactical approach that exploits MC Alger’s weaknesses while solidifying Yanga’s defensive structure, which faltered against Al Hilal. Ahead of the trip, a club official expressed optimism about the team’s chances despite the hurdles.