Yanga near qualification in CAF Champions League as Azam FC, Coastal Union brace for tough tests

Dar es Salaam. As Azam FC and Coastal Union face challenging tasks to qualify for the next round of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, mainland champions Young Africans (Yanga) are in a strong position, nearing qualification for the next round.

While Azam FC hold a slim advantage, Coastal Union faces a daunting task to keep their continental hopes alive.

Azam FC’s delicate position

Azam FC, one of Tanzania's top football clubs, secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda's APR in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary tie.

The match, played at the Azam Complex, saw Colombian striker Jhonier Blanco score the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.

While the victory was a positive result, it leaves Azam FC in a dangerous position as they prepare for the return leg in Kigali on August 24.

Head coach Youssouph Dabo acknowledged the fine margins involved in their first-leg win.

Despite being pleased with the home victory, Dabo pointed out the numerous missed opportunities that could have given his team a more comfortable lead.

 “Our primary target was to secure a victory at home, and we achieved that.

However, we missed many chances, and we must correct these mistakes before the second leg,” said Dabo. Azam FC must avoid a 2-0 defeat, which would see them eliminated from the competition. 

A 1-0 loss would push the match to a penalty shootout, adding further tension to an already high-stakes encounter.

Dabo has stressed the importance of a balanced approach, noting that his team needs to protect their lead while preventing APR from launching continuous attacks.

“We know they will come at us from the start, so we need to be prepared defensively and capitalize on our chances,” he said.

Should Azam FC advance, they will face a formidable opponent in Pyramids FC of Egypt, who demolished Zanzibar’s JKU 6-0 in their first-leg match.

The potential matchup highlights the importance of Azam FC securing a result in Kigali, as the next round will present an even greater challenge.

Coastal Union’s uphill battte

Coastal Union, representing Tanzania in the CAF Confederation Cup, faces a far more difficult challenge.

The Tanga-based club suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Angola’s Onze Bravos Do Maquis in their first-leg encounter.

The result leaves Coastal Union needing to overturn a three-goal deficit in the return leg, a task that is as daunting as it sounds.

 For Coastal Union to have any chance of advancing, they must secure a 3-0 victory in the second leg to level the aggregate score, pushing the match into a penalty shootout.

The team must be flawless both defensively and offensively, a difficult proposition against a disciplined Angolan side.

The winner of this tie will face FC Lupopo of DR Congo, a team with a rich history in African football, making Coastal Union's challenge even more formidable.

Yanga’s bright prospect

While Azam FC and Coastal Union face uphill battles, Young Africans (Yanga) are in a much more comfortable position.Yanga, the reigning Tanzanian Premier League champions, are on the brink of qualifying for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after an impressive 4-0 victory over Burundi’s Vital’O.

The match, played at the Azam Complex, saw Yanga dominate from start to finish, putting them in a commanding position ahead of the return leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

With a four-goal cushion, Yanga need only a draw or even a narrow loss to secure their place in the next round.

The potential next opponents for Yanga are the aggregate winners between Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank and Uganda’s SC Villa, with Commercial Bank holding a 2-1 lead after the first leg in Kampala.