CAF Confederation Cup
Tanzania’s Young Africans SC send strong message
Young Africans SC last night finished runners-up in the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The Tanzanian giants beat hosts USM Alger 1-0 at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on Saturday night to finish 2-2 on aggregate, but the Algerians edged them out on an away goals rule.
It was Djuma Shabani’s first half converted penalty that ensured the Young Africans SC team proved a point that they can win away from home. The Tanzanian side also had man of the match Djigui Diarra save USM Alger’s skipper Zineddine Belaid’s second-half penalty.
But as many where celebrating the end of an entertaining final, several other people also noted that Young Africans SC have sent a strong message and represented Tanzania and the CECAFA region well.
Yussuf Mossi, the CECAFA competitions Director noted that Young Africans have proved a point this season that they have been very organized and performed well. “They have sent a strong message home and as CECAFA we are happy with their performance and hope that as a region we keep getting better and better in the CAF competitions,” added Mossi.
Ahmed Ahmed Yusuf, a strong USM Alger supporter also made it clear that the Tanzanian team had sent a strong message to the continent. “Although they did not win the Cup, they have showed that they are an organized team. It is not easy to come here and beat USM Alger at home,” added Yusuf.
“As East Africans we are very impressed with the way Young Africans SC have carried the flag high. They have sent a strong message because they have beaten some strong teams in the continent enroute to the final,” says David Murungi from Rwanda.
Micky Nsuva, who follows a lot of Football in Tanzania told Cecafaonline that Young Africans Sc have been a class apart this season and have represented the country well. “They invested and have planned well and now the results are coming in. They are winning everything in Tanzania and now reached the final in a CAF competition,” added Nsuva.
Samia Suluhu, the President of Tanzania also congratulated the Young Africans SC team. “The history yo have written in your journey to this Championship is great and honorable for Nation. I wish you all the best in your future plans,” added Suluhu.
Although Young Africans SC lost in the final, they had star striker Fiston Kalala Mayele finish top scorer with seven goals, and will also pick a cash prize of US$1 million for finishing second.
After failing to go past Sudan’s Al Hilal in the final TotalEnergies CAF Champions League match to decide if they make it to the group stage, Young Africans SC showed good form I the Confederation Cup by brushing aside the likes of Club Africain, Union Monastirienne (Tunisia), Real Bamako (Maki), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Rivers United (Nigeria) and Marumo Gallants (South Africa).
Tanzania Premier League side, Simba Sc have been drawn to face two teams from North Africa and one from the CECAFA Zone in the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
During the draw supervised by the CAF Director of Competitions and Events, Samson Adamu on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, Simba SC were placed in Group A alongside CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), CS Constantine (Algeria) and Angola’s FC Bravos.
Legends Lawrence Siphiwe Dambuza Tshabalala, a former South African player and Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge helped conduct the draw.
To qualify for the group stage, Simba SC eliminated Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli 3-1 on goal aggregate in the second preliminary round.
The record 22 time Tanzania Premier League champions Simba SC are the only team that will carry the CECAFA flag in the Zone after Burundi’s Rukinzo FC and Kenya Police all exited at the second preliminary stage.
Former champions RS Berkane (Morocco) have been placed in Group B with Stade Malien (Mali), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) and CD Lunda – Sul FC. USM Alger (Algeria), ASEC Mimosa (Ivory Coast), and ASC Jaraaf (Senegal) are placed in Group C.
The reigning champion, fresh from winning the CAF Super Cup Zamalek (Egypt) are placed in Group D together with Al Masry (Egypt), Enyimba FC (Nigeria) and Black Bulls FC (Mozambique).
The group stage is expected to kick off in the last week of November 2024.
Simba SC have booked a place in the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The Tanzania Premier League side battled from a goal down at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dra es Salaam on Sunday to defeat Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli 3-1 on Sunday to qualify for the group stage.
After only 17 minutes Angolan striker Paciencia Mabululu intercepted a back-pass and slotted the ball in the net to give the visitors the lead. But Simba SC fought back strongly to score through Dennis Kibu and Leonel Ateba to give them a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Later in the second half Simba continued to dominate play and added a third goal through Edwin Balua to ensure the Tanzanian team qualified on a 3-1 goal aggregate.
Simba Sc becomes the only team from the CECAFA Zone that has qualified for the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after Burundi’s Rukinzo FC and Kenya Police all exited at the second preliminary stage.
Simba SC has now qualified for the group stage together with CS Constantine, USM Alger (Algeria), Orapa United (Botswana), Black Bulls FC (Mozambique), Bravos do Maquis, Lunda Sul FC (Angola), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Al Masry, Zamalek FC (Egypt), Enyimba FC (Nigeria), Stade Malien (Mali), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), RS Berkane (Morocco) and ASC Jaraaf (Senegal).
Kenya Police FC have exited the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after losing 3-1 to on a goal aggregate to Egypt’s Zamalek FC.
After losing the first leg 1-0 a week ago in Nairobi, the Kenyan representatives put-up a spirited first in the return leg played at the Cairo International Stadium, but lost 2-1 in a match played on Friday evening.
The Kenya Police side managed to hold the Egyptian side to a goalless first half, before they returned and changed their game strategy.
Ahmed ‘Zizo’ gave Zamalek the lead after 55 minutes with a good volley past the Kenya Police goalkeeper Patrick Matasi after good spade work by Omar Jaber. Six minutes later a defensive blunder by the Kenya Police defenders and goalkeeper Matasi gave the hosts chance to extend their lead through Nasser Maher.
Kenya Police pulled a goal back through Jesse Were after 66 minutes as they kept pushing forward. The Kenyan side that ejected Ethiopia Coffee FC 1-0 on aggregate in the first preliminary round tried to search for more goals, but to no avail.
On Saturday Burundi’s Rukinzo FC who lost the first leg 1-0 will be in action against CS Sfaxien in Tunisia, while Simba SC (Tanzania) will host Al Ahili Tripoli (Libya) at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
Tanzania’s Simba SC have settled for a goalless draw against Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) in their first leg second preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Simba SC created some good scoring chances in the match played at the Tripoli International Stadium in Libya on Sunday, but failed to make them count.
In another match involving a team from the CECAFA Zone played today, Burundi’s Rukinzo FC lost 1-0 to CS Sfaxien in a match played at the Tareb Mhiri Stadium in Sfax.
Mohamed Dhaoui netted the lone goal in the first half of the match hosted by Rukinzo FC. The Burundian champions opted to host the match in Tunisia because they do not have a Stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host International matches.
On Saturday Kenya Police suffered a 1-0 defeat to Zamalek (Egypt) in a match played in Nairobi.
The three teams will now hope to make the return legs count when Kenya Police battle Zamalek on September 20th in Cairo, Rukinzo battle CS Sfaxien on September 21st, while Simba SC host Al Ahly Tripoli the next day at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Teams that win over two legs will automatically qualify for the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup
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