Tanzania football giants face challenging tasks in Mapinduzi Cup knockout phase

Dar es Salaam. Football giants in the country, Young Africans (Yanga), Simba, and Azam FC, face challenging tasks in the Mapinduzi Cup quarterfinals scheduled for January 7 and 8, 2024, at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

The trio topped their respective groups, each collecting seven points. Yanga will face APR of Rwanda on January 7 at 8:15 pm, Azam FC will take on Singida Fountain Gate FC on January 8 at 4.15 pm, and later on the day, Simba will meet Jamhuri of Pemba at 8.15 pm.

In other quarterfinal ties, KVZ will host defending champions Mlandege FC on January 7 at 4.15 pm.

All the matches are billed to be competitive and thrilling as each team will be targeting victory in order to qualify for the semis of the tournament.

The winners of the competition will receive Sh100 million, according to Nasra Juma, the secretary-general of the organizing committee of the tournament. In the previous edition, the winners were awarded Sh35 million.

Juma mentioned that the second-placed team will pocket Sh70 million, thanks to the tournament sponsors. She also highlighted that the committee will give awards for the best player of the match, best goalkeeper, top scorer, and others.

Apart from the giants, other teams that made it to the quarterfinals of the competition include Vital’O of Burundi, Jamus of South Sudan, JKU, and Chipukizi, both of Zanzibar.

The tournament marks its 18th season since its inception in 2007, with records showing that Azam FC have won the title five times, followed by Simba four times.

The competition coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution, which occurred on January 12, 1964. The finals of this season will be held on January 13 at the renovated Amaan Stadium.