Yanga unfazed as Zambian champs loom

What you need to know:

  • The George Lwandamina-coached side advanced on a 6-2 aggregate, booking a date with Zambian champions Zanaco FC.
  • Zanaco beat APR of Rwanda 1-0 in Lusaka yesterday to eliminate the Rwandan champions on a 1-0 goal aggregate.

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans booked a place in the first round of the African Champions League after playing out a one-all draw against Ngaya Club of the Comoros at the National Stadium yesterday.

The George Lwandamina-coached side advanced on a 6-2 aggregate, booking a date with Zambian champions Zanaco FC.

Zanaco beat APR of Rwanda 1-0 in Lusaka yesterday to eliminate the Rwandan champions on a 1-0 goal aggregate.

Yanga and Zanaco last met in 2006 when the latter saw off the Jangwani Street boys on a 3-2 goal aggregate.

Yanga won the first leg 2-1, but could not protect their lead in Lusaka as Zanaco scored two unanswered goals to sail through to the next phase.

Yanga have three weeks to prepare for the double-legged encounter with Zanaco. The first leg match will take place at the National Stadium between March 10 and 12.

Speaking after the match, confident Yanga assistant head coach Juma Mwambusi hailed players for a disciplined performance, adding that they were unfazed by Zanaco’s threat.

“Bring them on. They are a strong side, but we are unfazed. Our tactics will change according the team we will be facing, so I think it will be a good match and hopefully Yanga will prevail,” said Mwambusi.

He added: “After all, our head coach (Lwandamina) knows everything about them; he has played against them several times. I can assure you that we already have a clue of how to beat them. “Our target is to surpass what we achieved last year, so Zanaco is a hurdle that we will certainly clear.”

Yanga reached group stage of the continent’s top club championship for the first time under Hans van der Pluijm, but had an abysmal showing after failing to win a single match.

They were demoted to the Confederation Cup knock out round where they bowed to eventual champions TP Mazembe.

In yesterday’s match, Ngaya Club looked determined to reverse the 5-1 deficit and managed to take the lead in the 19th minute, silencing thousands of Yanga supporters at the 60,000-seater facility.

Zamir Mohamed superbly from outside the box. However, Yanga equalised in the 43rd minute through Haji Mwinyi whose 35-metre volley went straight into the nets.

Yanga’s starting XI

Deogratius Munishi, Juma Abdul, Haji Mwinyi, Kelvin Yondani, Vincent Bossou, Justin Zulu, Simon Msuva, Thabani Kamusoko, Deus Kaseke, Obrey Chirwa, Emmanuel Martin.