Young Africans are gearing up to kick off their chase for a third straight trip to the CAF Champions League group stage with an important away match against Wiliete SC from Angola. The first leg of this preliminary round is happening today at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, with the game starting at 6 p.m. EAT.
Yanga is rolling into this match with tons of confidence, boasting an ongoing 23-match unbeaten streak. They’ve been on fire, winning their last 12 games in a row. Recent victories against their big rivals, Simba SC, including a narrow 1-0 win earlier this week, have really pumped up their spirits. This will be their first face-off with an Angolan team since they took on Esperanca Sagrada back in the 2016/2017 CAF Confederation Cup.
The leadership at Yanga knows they have a tough challenge ahead. CEO Andre Mtine made it clear that while they feel ready, they can’t take their opponents lightly. “Our opponents are a strong side,” he said after arriving in Angola. “Our technical bench has done their homework on their squad, so we know it’s going to be a fight. I just ask the fans to keep us in their thoughts, and I’m confident we’ll come away with a good result.”
Wiliete SC earned their spot in the CAF Champions League after finishing second in the Angolan league last season, marking their first appearance in this tournament. Founded in 2018, they’ve quickly climbed the ranks in Angolan football and will certainly bring their A-game.
To get the crucial away win, Yanga will look to key players like Clement Mzize, Pacome Zouzoua, and Prince Dube to score some important goals. A solid result in Luanda will set them up nicely for the return leg at home on Saturday, September 27, where they’ll play at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The winners will then move on to face either Elgeco Plus from Madagascar or Silver Strikers from Malawi, adding extra excitement to the competition.
