Coach salutes Yanga
Addis Ababa. It may not have been the result Young Africans wanted, or the performance any of their fans were hoping for.
But it was just enough to give them the desired outcome: making it to the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Yanga, as the Mainland giants are fondly referred to, sailed through despite going down 1-0 to hosts Waleytta Dicha in a play-off second leg clash here yesterday.
They are now entitled to a $275,000 (Sh600 million) cash prize from the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
The Jangwani Street giants, who registered a 2-0 home win over the Ethiopia team in the first leg match 11 days ago, booked a place in the mini-league on 2-0 aggregate.
In yesterday match, Yanga, needing at least a draw or defeat of less than one goal to qualify to the next stage of the tournament, made a wobbly start.
Dicha, enjoying a friendly support from their fans, seemed destined for a convincing as they made a start.
It took them two minutes to break the stalemate through Arafat Djako, who capitalized on defensive mix-up to send the home fans at the venue into wild celebrations.
Meanwhile, USM Alger of Algeria surged into the CAF Confederation Cup group phase for the first time by trouncing Plateau United of Nigeria 4-0 Tuesday in a play-off second leg. The Algiers club advanced 5-2 on aggregate to the 16-club mini-league stage after losing the first leg 2-1 in Lagos 10 days ago.
Oussama Darfalou put USM ahead on 28 minutes in the Algerian capital and scored again three minutes after half-time to give the 2015 CAF Champions League runners-up a 3-0 lead.
Kaddour Beldjilali after 43 minutes and Mohamed Benkhemassa nine minutes from time were the other USM scorers.
CR Belouizdad, the other Algerian challengers in the second-tier African club competition, were held 0-0 at home by ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast and bowed out having lost 1-0 away.
The result confirmed the good away record of Abidjan-based former African champions ASEC in CAF competitions this season.
