CAF Champions League
Coach Gamondi hopeful Young Africans SC can qualify for Semis
Hosts Young Africans SC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns FC have battled to a goalless draw in the first leg of the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions league quarter final stage in a match played in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night.
After a balanced match which saw Young African’s striker Clement Mzize missing two scoring opportunities in each half at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, coach Miguel Gamondi has said they can still qualify for the semi-finals.
Kennedy Musonda also had another chance for Young Africans SC, but Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was up to the task stopping the shot from close range. The 2016 champions had a last minute free kick at the edge of the box, but missed the target.
“We controlled the match for a long time and failed to take the chances we created. But remember we were playing a good team too,” said Gamondi after the match watched by a capacity crowd.
Gamondi who was assistant coach for Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 when they lifted the trophy made it clear that he is hopeful they can go to South Africa and get a good result to qualify for the semi-final stage.” We know how to handle them and we shall plan better for the return leg,” added the Algerian.
Ahmed Musa, one of the Young Africans supporters told Cecafaonline.com that he is happy that the team played well. “We played like trues champions although we failed to score,” added Musa.
Another supporter Rema Ali also said the Tanzanian champions had carried the flag high by playing good football against a strong side. “With the draw now we can still go to South Africa and get a good result to qualify for the semi-final,” added Ali.
The two teams will battle in the second leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on April 5th, 2024.
The winner between Simba SC and Al Ahly will prepare to battle the winner between Esperance de Tunis and ASEC Mimosas at the semi-final stage, while the winner between Young Africans SC and Mamelodi Sundowns will take on the winners between TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Angola’s Petro de Luanda.