Coaches urge Yanga SC to fight back in CAF Champions League

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) are facing a challenging situation in the CAF Champions League after two consecutive defeats.

Despite the setbacks, football coaches in Tanzania are urging the team to remain focused and fight for a spot in the knockout stage.

The Jangwani Street giants lost 2-0 to MC Alger of Algeria at the Ali La Pointe Stadium in Douera on Saturday night, continuing their dismal performance in the league.

After Yanga lost against Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan by the same score in the first game at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, this was the team’s second loss in a row.

With four points from two games, MC Alger leads the group, while Yanga are still at the bottom of the Group A rankings with no points.

Al Hilal Omdurman sit second with three points, and TP Mazembe of DR Congo, who faced Al Hilal Omdurman away yesterday from 10 pm, are third with one point.

The defeat seemed to put Yanga in a fix as they need to win all their remaining four matches to make it to the knockout stage of the competition.

Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, famous coach Jamhuri “Julio” Kihwelu said the players and technical bench need to evaluate and rectify all mistakes before the next matches.

The Jangwani Street giants will swing back into action on December 14 against TP Mazembe of DR Congo in Lubumbashi and will later host TP Mazembe at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

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.

“Yanga still have a chance to qualify for the next stage of the competition despite the losses. Take, for example, our national football team, Taifa Stars, who lost back-to-back matches against DR Congo and still won against Ethiopia and Guinea to qualify for the Afcon in Morocco.

Yanga must set targets for the next matches, and there is no option other than to win all matches,” said Kihwelu. He added that there is a tendency for many players to lose confidence after two consecutive losses.

“This is the time for Yanga members, fans, and leaders to unite as the team faces tough assignments ahead. Winning four matches is not easy, as Yanga will have to travel to DR Congo and play away against Al Hilal Omdurman in a country yet to be named. I call on all players to pull up their socks despite the fatigue they seem to be experiencing,” he said.

For his part, Abel Mtweve, former U-15 football team coach, echoed Kihwelu’s comments while urging the team’s players to stay focused ahead of the next matches.

“Players need to be very keen in the next four matches. The match against TP Mazembe is crucial as it will determine the status of the team. Yanga need victory and nothing else,” said Mtweve.