Mainland Premier League champions Young Africans SC (Yanga) will launch their quest for continental glory against Botswana’s Gaborone United in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, following the draw conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
The draw sets up an intriguing contest between two domestic champions as Yanga seek to secure a place in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
The Tanzanian giants will face Gaborone United over two legs, with the winner advancing to the next phase of the tournament.
Should Yanga overcome the Botswana champions, they will progress to the second qualifying round, where they will meet the winner of the tie between Madagascar’s CFFA and Lijabatho FC of Lesotho for a place in the group stage.
The Jangwani-based club enters the competition with renewed ambitions of making a deeper run in Africa after reinforcing its squad during the transfer window and intensifying preparations for the new season.
Yanga have established themselves as one of East Africa’s leading clubs in recent years, and the latest campaign presents another opportunity for the Tanzanian champions to strengthen their standing on the continental stage.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) calendar, the first-round qualifying matches are scheduled for September, with teams required to navigate two knockout rounds to secure qualification for the lucrative group stage.
Club officials and supporters will be hoping the draw marks the beginning of another memorable continental journey as Yanga seek to challenge Africa’s top clubs and bring further success to Tanzanian football.
