Young Africans SC qualify for CAF Champions League group stage

Tanzania’s Young Africans SC have qualified for the group stage of the 2023-2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Coach Miguel Gamondi’s side stopped Sudan’s El Merriekh 1-0 in the return leg of the second round played at the Azam Complex, Chamazi on Saturday night.

Clement Mzize nodded in the lone goal after 72 minutes to ensure Young Africans SC qualified on a 3-0 goal aggregate.

Dickson Nickson Job, the Young Africans SC captain said they are happ to qualify for the group stage after failing last season. « We have worked hard to get here and we shall make sure we continue working hard, » added the captain.

Last season Young Africans SC failed to qualify for the group stage after getting knocked out by another Sudanese side Al Hilal. But the Tanzanian side went on to reach the final of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup losing to USM Alger.

The other teams in the CECAFA Zone that failed to qualify for the group stage after the second round matches played in the last two days include ; St. George, APR FC and Bumamuru FC.

On Friday reigning champions Al Ahly stopped Ethiopia’s St. George 4-0 in Cairo, while another Egyptian side Pyramids also humbled APR FC (Rwanda) 6-1. Burundi’s Bumamuru who lost the first leg 4-0 to Mamalodi Sundowns suffered a 2-0 defeat in the return leg in Pretoria on Saturday.

Two teams from the CECAFA Zone Simba SC and Al Hilal will also be all out on Sunday to try and qualify for the group stage. Tanzania’s Simba SC who managed a 2-2 draw in the first leg away to Power Dynamos will host the Zambian side at the Azam Complex, Chamazi, while Al Hilal of Sudan take on Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) in a match which will be played in Morocco.