Tanzanian champions Young Africans earned a hard-fought point in Algeria after holding JS Kabylie to a 0–0 draw in their CAF Champions League (CAFCL) Group B match on Friday.
The hosts, who suffered a heavy defeat in their opening match against Al Ahly, were under pressure to respond in front of their home fans in Tizi Ouzou. But despite enjoying the advantage of familiar conditions, JS Kabylie struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Yanga side.
Yanga started confidently and refused to sit back, with early pressure forcing JSK goalkeeper Mohamed Hadid into action to parry away a well-struck free kick. The visitors’ positive approach helped them settle quickly in what is known to be one of North Africa’s toughest stadiums.
JS Kabylie’s best moment of the first half came through captain Zineddine Belaid, whose powerful header crashed off the crossbar shortly after the quarter-hour mark. However, beyond that opportunity, the Algerian giants offered little threat in the final third, failing to trouble Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
The second half delivered even fewer chances as both sides slowed down, and urgency only returned in stoppage time when JSK pushed forward in search of a winner. Diarra produced a brilliant double save from a late set-piece situation to ensure Yanga returned home with a valuable point. The result leaves the Tanzanian champions on four points from their first two matches.
Group B matches will resume in late January. JS Kabylie will host Morocco’s AS FAR in a must-win fixture, while Yanga travel to Egypt for a challenging test against record champions Al Ahly.