CAF Champions League
Young Africans, Simba SC face tricky away tests in CAF Champions League quarters
Tanzania Premier League sides and CECAFA flag holders Young Africans SC and Simba SC will this evening face tough tests in return away quarter ties in the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Young Africans SC who drew goalless with 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns SC will take to the field first at the Loftus Stadium, and later Simba SC who lost the first leg 1-0 will enter the fray against Al Ahly at the Cairo Stadium.
Angel Miguel Gamondi, the Young Africans SC head coach has made it clear that his team has believe in themselves and they are ready to go all out to try and get a positive result o take us to the next stage. Although he did not indicate if Khalid Aucho who missed the first leg due to injury will feature, the Ugandan midfielder is part of the squad in Pretoria.
“We need to use our chances because we failed to convert some during the first leg. We expect a very tough match because we are facing a good side,” added Gamondi.
Mahlatsi Makudubela, Young Africans SC’s South African attacking midfielder has also said they have done their homework and are ready to face the Mamelodi Sundowns.
Later Simba SC who are hungry to make it to the last four after reaching the quarter final stage again last season will be hoping to get their tactical approach right and find the goals that eluded them in the first leg.
Simba SC coach Abdelhak Benchikha has said they have tried to rectify some mistakes and are determined to go all out in the return leg. “We must make sure we score because we are creating many opportunities in-front of goal. But we must also defend well,” added the coach. In the inaugural African Football League last year, Simba SC drew a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Dar es Salaam against Al Ahly, and settled for a 1-1 draw in second leg in Cairo, but the Egyptians qualified for the next phase on an away goals rule.
On Saturday two more quarter final matches will be played with Atletico Petroleos hosting DR COngo’s TP Mazembe in Angola, while ASEC Mimosas play host to Esperance (Tunisia) in Ivory Coast.
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.
Tanzania Premier League giants Young Africans SC have stopped DR Congo’s TP Mazembe 3-1 in a Group A match of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The win sends Young Africans SC’s first to four points and revives their hopes of picking squeezing through to the quarter-final stage.
After 16 minutes TP Mazambe’s goalkeeper Alioune Badara Faty stepped forward and converted a penalty sending goalkeeper Djigui Diarra the wrong way.
But Young Africans SC who are welcoming the return of midfielder and Uganda Cranes skipper Khalid Aucho leveled matters after 33 minutes through Clement Nzize.
Nzize unleashed a hard shot from out side the box that rested at the back of the next to send the home fans jubilating at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
In the second half Young Africans intensified their search for more goals and it paid off when Stephane Aziz Ki made it 2-1 after 56 minutes. Four minutes later Nzize netted his second goal of the day.
“I am happy that the team has worked hard to finally get this win. We need to continue working hard because we have more matches to come,” said Young Africans SC head coach Sead Ramovic.
Sudan’s Al Hilal who hosts MC Alger (Algeria) on Sunday currently lead Group A with nine points.
Table Group A
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Al Hilal 3 3 0 0 5 1 4 9
MC Alger 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 4
Y. Africans 4 1 1 2 4 6 -2 4
TP Mazembe 4 0 2 2 3 6 -3 2
Sudan giants Al Hilal have continued with their winning ways in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group A campaign.
Coach Florent Ibenge’s side stunned hosts MC Alger 1-0 with Guessouma Fofana scoring the lone goal after 76 minutes in Algiers, Algeria on Saturday night.
The win keeps Al Hilal comfortably top of the log with nine points after they had also stopped Young Africans SC 2-0 in Dar es Salaam and defeated TP Mazembe 2-1 in a match played in Mauritania a week ago.
“I am very happy that my players remained focused and collected the three points. We need to keep focused because we still have more games to go,” said Ibenge after the match.
In an earlier Group A match Tanzania’s Young Africans SC picked their first point in the Group stage after a 1-1 draw away to TP Mazembe in Kinsasha.
Substitute Cheick Fofana gave TP Mazembe the lead after 41 minutes, but Zimbabwean International Prince Dube leveled matters in the dying minutes of the game.
While Al Hilal have now collected 9 points, MC Alger are second with 4 points. TP Mazembe are in third place with 2 points, while Young Africans SC only have 1 point and are bottom of the log.
Sudan’s Al Hilal have stopped TP Mazembe 2-1 to maintain their winning run in Group A of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
After shocking Young Africans SC 2-0 in the opening match played in Dar es Salaam a week ago, Al Hilal made sure they collected another straight win against DR Congo giants in a match played on Sunday at the Cheikha Ouid Boidiya Stadium in Mauritania.
Al Hilal were awarded a penalty after 22 minutes, and Mohamed Abdel Rahman made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-0.
After recess TP Mazembe pushed forward and leveled matters after 64 minutes through Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb. Substitute Jean Claude Girumigisha came to the rescue to ensure Al Hilal collected maximum points with a winning goal one minute of added time.
“It was a very tough match. But I am happy that my players concentrated till the end of the match,” said a happy Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge after the match.
Group A table leaders Al Hilal will next travel to face Algeria’s MC Alger on December 14th, while Young Africans SC play away to TP Mazembe in DR Congo.
Tanzanian Premier League reigning champions Young Africans SC will be hoping to return to winning ways when the face MC Alger in a 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group A tie on Saturday.
The tricky encounter will take place at the Stade du 5 Juillet in the capital Algiers
After losing their opening Group A match 2-0 to Sudan’s Al Hilal in Dar es Salaam last weekend, Young Africans SC’s new coach Sead Ramovic will be hoping that his team can return strongly.
“We need to be very cautious because the match is away from home and we must play better than we played against Al Hilal,” says Ramovic.
“We are coming up against a difficult team with many experienced players but we also have a side with very good players too. We are under pressure after losing our first game but that also gives us the strength to prepare well for tomorrow’s encounter,” added the coach.
While Young Africans SC suffered defeat in their opening Group A match, MC Alger picked a goalless draw away to TP Mazembe in DR Congo.
Group A table leaders Al Hilal will return to action against TP Mazembe on Sunday in a match they will hosts at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium, Nouakchott in Mauritania.
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