Four must-see moments as Premier League wraps up
Combined photo of Yanga’s Stephane Aziz Ki and Azam FC’s attacking midfielder, Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Yanga have been crowned the Mainland champions for the third consecutive time and the 30th in their history.
Dar es Salaam. The curtain is set to fall on the 2023/2024 NBC Premier League season this afternoon, with eight matches scheduled at various venues around the country.
Yanga have been crowned the Mainland champions for the third consecutive time and the 30th in their history.
Yanga boast 77 points, which cannot be surpassed by any other team in the league. Yanga also have already secured the CAF Champions League slot.
The fixture shows that the Jangwani Street giants will face Tanzania Prisons at the Azam Complex from 4pm.
Apart from that, Azam FC will play away against Geita Gold FC at Nyankumbu ground in Geita, Mashujaa will face Dodoma Jiji FC at the Lake Tanganyika Stadium in Kigoma, and Simba will host JKT Tanzania at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Also on the list are Coastal Union against KMC at the Mkwakwani Stadium, while Ihefu FC will meet Mtibwa Sugar at the Liti Stadium. Singida Fountain Gate will play against Kagera Sugar at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, and Namungo FC will host Tabora United at the Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi. As the league comes to an end, The Citizen Sport looks at four talking points from today’s league action.
CAF Champions League slot
With Yanga having already secured a CAF Champions League slot, the task remains for Azam FC and Simba, who are contesting the other slot to join the Jangwani Street giants. According to league standings, Azam FC and Simba have each collected 66 points from 29 matches.
Azam FC is placed in second position due to a better goal difference against Simba, who are placed third. The Ice-Cream Makers have so far scored 61 goals while conceding 21, making an average of 40 goals against Simba, who have scored 57 goals while conceding 32, making an average of 25 goals.
This situation makes today’s matches decisive for the two teams, despite Azam FC having the best chance to secure the CAF Champions League slot. Coastal Union of Tanga have already secured a CAF Confederation Cup place after collecting 42 points, which cannot be surpassed by the other 12 remaining teams in the league.
Simba will need to ‘pray’ for poor results from Azam FC, such as a draw or loss against Geita Gold FC, while they must win against JKT Tanzania. If the two teams draw, win, or both lose, Azam FC will qualify for the CAF Champions League.
However, Simba are regulars in the CAF Champions League, having featured in the competition several times and performed well from the 2018/2019 to the 2023/2024 seasons. In the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League, Simba qualified for the quarterfinals through a playoff.
Relegation Zone
So far, Mtibwa Sugar, with 21 points, have been relegated to the Championship because even if they win against Ihefu FC today, they will not leapfrog Geita Gold FC, who are placed 15th with 25 points.
Things are not looking good for Geita Gold FC as they need to win against Azam FC, who are fighting for the second position, to survive. If Geita Gold wins against Azam FC and Tabora United loses against Namungo FC, the Lake Zone side will feature in the playoff.
Therefore, Geita Gold FC must win against Azam FC to qualify for the relegation playoff; otherwise, they will join Mtibwa Sugar in the Championship. Also in danger of featuring in the relegation playoff are Kagera Sugar, who must win against Singida Fountain Gate, JKT Tanzania, and Mashujaa FC.
Golden boot award
Another centre of attraction as the league comes to an end is the top golden boot race between Yanga’s Stephane Aziz Ki and Azam FC’s attacking midfielder, Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum, with each having scored 18 goals.
There is a possibility of the two players tying, similar to what happened in the 2022/2023 league season when Fiston Mayele of Yanga and Simba playmaker Saidi Ntibazonkiza shared the award after each scoring 17 goals. If that happens, it will be like the 2016/2017 season when Yanga’s striker Simon Msuva and Ruvu Shooting's attacking midfielder Abdulrahman Mussa tied, each scoring 14 goals.
Best Goalkeeper Award
Today’s matches will also determine the best goalkeeper’s award. Yanga’s Djigui Diarra and Coastal Union custodian Ley Matampi are contesting the award, each having recorded 13 clean sheets.
