Chama, Diarra fit for CAF Cup clash against TP Mazembe
From left: Stephane Aziz KI, Clatous Chama and Pacome Zouzoua. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The players had missed various Tanzania Mainland Premier League matches as they were nursing injuries.
Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) technical bench and fans have a reason to smile following a report that the team’s three key players, Clatous Chama, Maxi Nzengeli, and first-choice goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, will be fit ahead of the CAF Champions League group stage match against DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
The encounter is scheduled to be held this Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The players had missed various Tanzania Mainland Premier League matches as they were nursing injuries.
However, Yanga’s Information Officer, Ally Kamwe, said yesterday that the players’ inclusion in the starting lineup will depend on the decision of the technical bench.
Kamwe added that defenders Kouassi Attohoula Yao and Aziz Andambwile are yet to recover fully ahead of the match and are undergoing light training.
He said that besides Yao and Andambwile, other players have resumed training and are gearing up for the crucial encounter scheduled to start at 4pm East African time.
“It is good news as now our technical bench under head coach Sead Ramovic has been boosted with the return of three players. Earlier on the list was striker Kennedy Musonda, who has recovered fully.
“Although he was available for selection during our match against Fountain Gate FC at the KMC Complex, our coach decided not to field him, but to keep him fresh for the significant task against TP Mazembe,” said Kamwe.
He added that the players are in high spirits as they aim to secure victory over TP Mazembe and continue their mission of qualifying for the knockout stage from Group A.
Yanga are currently at the bottom of the group with one point and must win all their three remaining matches to enter the knockout stage.
Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan lead the group standings with nine points, followed by MC Alger of Algeria with four points, and TP Mazembe in third place with two points.
Arithmetically, no team in Group A has secured qualification to the knockout stage, although Al Hilal Omdurman need only three points to advance.
The fixtures show that Yanga will play again on January 10, 2025, facing Al Hilal Omdurman away, and will later host MC Alger on January 17 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to complete the group stage matches.
Match officials
The match will be officiated by Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall from Mauritius and assisted by Ram Babajee and Aswet Teeluck, while the fourth official will be Noris Aaron Arissol from Seychelles.
