Tanzania's only representative in the CAF Champions League (CAFCL), Young Africans (Yanga), had a disappointing start in their group-stage campaign after a 2-0 loss to Sudan’s Al Hilal.
The game, held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, saw Yanga fail to capitalize on their home-ground advantage, leaving fans frustrated by the result.
Al Hilal broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Adama Coulibaly scored the first goal of the match.
Coulibaly's strike came after he maneuvered past Yanga’s defender, Ibrahim Hamad, and found space to beat goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, putting Al Hilal in the lead.
The visitors extended their advantage in the 90th minute, as Yasir Mozamil scored a second goal, sealing a well-earned victory for Al Hilal in their opening match of the group stage.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Yanga had a promising start in the first half, which ended goalless at 0-0.
The team created several chances and often appeared the stronger side, pushing forward to test Al Hilal's defense. In the 8th minute, Yanga’s forward Prince Dube received a well-placed pass from Nickson Kibabage and unleashed a powerful shot, but Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Issa Fofana skillfully denied the attempt.
The second half saw more near misses for Yanga. In the 55th minute, Kibabage took another strong shot that looked destined for the back of the net. However, Fofana was once again on hand to make a crucial save, tipping the ball out for a corner that ultimately yielded no goal.
After the match, Yanga’s head coach, Saed Ramovic, cited the physical fitness of his players as a significant factor in the loss. “We had many opportunities but failed to capitalize on them. I will address the weaknesses I observed to ensure a better outcome in the next match,” said Ramovic. The coach remains optimistic about improving Yanga's performance as they prepare for upcoming CAFCL fixtures.
Line-ups
Yanga: Djigui Diarra, Ibrahim Hamad, Dickson Job, Max Nzengeli, Stephane Aziz Ki, Koussi Attohoula, Pacome Zouzoua, Mudathir Yahya, Prince Dube, Nickson Kibabage, Duke.
Al Hilal: Issa Fofana, Altayeb Abelrazig Abaker, Jean Claude, Mohammed Yagub, Adam Coulibaly, Khalid Diaw, Saleh Eldin, Elaine, Hadji Kane, Walieldin Khadir, Ebuela Steven, Ousmane Diouf.
As the group stage progresses, Yanga will need to address their shortcomings and focus on their physical conditioning to secure favorable results in the upcoming matches.
