No Baleke for Yanga ahead of Caf’s crucial TP Mazembe clash
What you need to know:
- With only two matches played so far, Yanga sit at the bottom of Group A without any points after consecutive losses, while TP Mazembe are third with one point.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's envoys in the CAF Champions League, Young Africans (Yanga), have arrived safely in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, without their striker, Jean Baleke.
Baleke, who joined Yanga this season, had been recruited on loan by Al-Ittihad of Libya from TP Mazembe before signing with Yanga.
Yanga head coach Sead Ramovic has opted to travel with three strikers: Kennedy Musonda, Prince Dube, and Clement Mzize, who missed the previous two matches due to injuries.
No specific reasons were given for Baleke’s absence. Yanga’s Competition Chairman, Rogers Gumbo, refrained from commenting on the matter, stating that it falls under the club’s management.
“What I can tell you is that all players in top form have arrived safely in Lubumbashi. The players are in high spirits and understand how crucial this match is for the team,” said Gumbo on the phone.
With only two matches played so far, Yanga sit at the bottom of Group A without any points after consecutive losses, while TP Mazembe are third with one point.
Group leaders Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan have six points, followed by MC Alger of Algeria with four. The match will be officiated by Djindo Louis Houngnandande, marking his second assignment in the CAF Champions League.
His first match, held on November 26, saw Egypt’s Pyramids FC defeat Angola’s Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança 5-1 in Cairo. During that game, Houngnandande issued three yellow cards.
Houngnandande has also officiated three Africa Cup of Nations matches, issuing a total of 14 yellow cards, bringing his tally in major competitions to 17 yellow cards.
Yanga's upcoming match against TP Mazembe is a significant test for both teams, as they are desperate for points to stay in contention for qualification.
Victory for Yanga will not only improve their position in the group but also will serve as a morale booster for players and fans as they navigate the competition's challenges. The Jangwani-based team’s performance this Saturday is crucial in determining their path forward in this prestigious tournament.
