Azam FC knocked out of international competition
What you need to know:
- Azam suffered a 2-0 loss at the Amahoro Stadium on August 24, 2024, which concluded their journey in this year's competition.
Dar es Salaam. Azam FC's aspiration of advancing to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League were abruptly ended by their defeat to APR of Rwanda.
The ice-cream makers suffered a 2-0 loss at the Amahoro Stadium on August 24, 2024, which concluded their journey in this year's competition.
Azam FC had entered the second leg with a slender advantage after securing a 1-0 victory at the Azam Complex in the first leg held one week prior. This meant that a draw would have sufficed for them to advance.
However, their hopes were dashed as APR's Jean Bosco Ruboneka scored in the 45th minute, followed by Gilbert Mugisha's goal in the 62nd minute. These goals resulted in a 2-1 aggregate defeat for the Tanzanian side.
Throughout the match, Azam FC made only a few attacking efforts and were largely outplayed by APR, who controlled the majority of the game.
The Tanzanian team struggled to break down APR’s defense and failed to capitalize on their limited opportunities.
This elimination marks the second time Azam FC has been knocked out in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. Their first exit occurred in 2015 when they were defeated by Sudan's Al-Merrikh with a 3-2 aggregate score.
This repeated setback highlights the team's ongoing difficulties in progressing through the early stages of continental competitions.
In addition to their struggles in the CAF Champions League, Azam FC have faced challenges in other international tournaments. They have never advanced to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and have consistently been eliminated in the second round.
This pattern underscores the difficulties Tanzanian clubs face in making a significant impact on the continental stage.
Azam FC's latest elimination serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with competing at the highest levels of African club football.
Despite their strong performances domestically, the club continues to search for a breakthrough in international competitions.
As they regroup and reflect on their campaign, Azam FC will look to build on their experiences and strive for better outcomes in future tournaments.
