Dar Es Salaam. Tanzania: Young Africans SC (Yanga) secured a place in the CAF Champions League group stage with a 2–0 victory over Malawi’s Silver Strikers at the iconic Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. This result allowed Yanga to turn around a 1–0 deficit from the first leg, advancing 2–1 on aggregate and igniting jubilation among the thousands of passionate supporters in attendance.
From the opening whistle, Yanga charged forward with relentless energy, immediately pressing their opponents and seeking an early goal. Their efforts were rewarded just six minutes into the match when defender Dickson Job soared above the defenders to connect with a corner delivered by Mohamed Doumbia. Job’s header found the back of the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy of celebration.
With the early lead in hand, Yanga grew in confidence, pushing Silver Strikers onto the back foot. The Jangwani giants maintained a stranglehold on possession, showcasing impressive creativity and composure in midfield, primarily through the dynamic pairing of Doumbia and Maxi Nzengeli.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 34th minute, when Nzengeli delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Ivorian forward Pacome Zouzoua. With precision and calmness, Zouzoua slotted the ball past goalkeeper George Chikooka, doubling Yanga’s lead and putting them firmly in control of the two-legged tie.
Despite their comfortable advantage, Yanga displayed a relentless attacking approach, looking to cement their dominance further. Striker Prince Dube missed a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute after a brilliant setup from Zouzoua, and shortly after, substitute Edmund John saw his close-range effort skillfully saved by Chikooka. Although the scoreline reflected a solid Yanga performance, their continued inability to finish left the visitors relieved, with Silver Strikers struggling to regain control.
On the other hand, Silver Strikers, who had shown promise in the first leg, found it challenging to replicate their earlier form. While players like Maxwell Paipi, Daniel Sandukira, Uchizi Vunga, and Andulu Yosefe managed to threaten Yanga with sporadic counterattacks, they frequently came up against a resilient Yanga defense, anchored by captain Bakari Nondo and the steadfast Job, who denied their advances with determination.
This victory marks a significant turnaround for Yanga, especially after the frustrations of the first leg that led to head coach Romain Folz’s dismissal. Assistant coach Patrick Mabedi took the reins for the decisive match and inspired a remarkable display of tactical discipline and unity among the players, earning Yanga a place among Africa’s football elite once again.
As the final whistle blew, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium erupted in joyous celebration. Fans waved flags, sang their club’s anthems, and embraced the players who had worked diligently to restore pride to Jangwani Street. This qualification to the group stage represents another pivotal milestone in Yanga’s continental journey, as the club aims to match or even surpass their impressive campaign in last season’s CAF Confederation Cup. The excitement within the stadium illustrated the unwavering support and hopeful aspirations of Yanga’s loyal fanbase for the challenges that lie ahead.