Boyeli shines as Yanga beat Rayon Sport 3-1 to lift first trophy of the season

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans SC (Yanga) have started their 2025/2026 campaign in style, clinching their first piece of silverware with a 3-1 victory over Rwanda’s Rayon Sport on Thursday, August 15, 2025, at the iconic Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

The match formed part of the annual Rayon Sport Day, a prestigious fixture in Rwandan football that serves as both a celebration of the club’s heritage and a platform to unveil their new signings ahead of the new season.

Yanga, invited as the special guests, also took the opportunity to showcase their own summer recruits.

The game started in dramatic fashion, with the hosts taking the lead after just one minute through an unfortunate own goal.

Yanga defender Aziz Andambwile, under no real pressure, attempted a routine back pass to his goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra.

 However, his pass had too much pace and eluded the Malian shot-stopper, rolling agonisingly into the net to put Rayon Sport 1-0 up.

Despite the setback, Yanga quickly settled into their rhythm, dominating possession and creating chances as they sought a way back into the contest.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 28th minute when new signing Andy Bobwa Boyeli—brought in from South Africa’s Sekhukhune United—showed his striker’s instinct.

Boyeli latched onto a perfectly threaded pass from Ivorian midfielder Peodoh Pacome Zouzoua and calmly slotted the ball past the Rayon goalkeeper to level the match at 1-1.

Pacome puts Yanga ahead

As the first half progressed, Yanga’s confidence grew, with their midfield controlling the tempo and their wingers stretching the Rayon defense.

Just before the interval, the visitors grabbed the lead. In the 45th minute, Congolese midfielder Celestin Acua delivered a superb pass into the path of Pacome, who kept his composure to fire past the goalkeeper, giving Yanga a 2-1 advantage heading into half-time.

Second half control and late finish

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Yanga dictating play while Rayon Sport tried to break forward on the counterattack.

The Tanzanian champions defended resolutely, with captain Bakari Nondo Mwamnyeto marshalling the backline and thwarting Rayon’s attacking moves.

As the game entered stoppage time, Yanga struck again to put the result beyond doubt.

In the 90+4th minute, a pinpoint corner from another new recruit, Offen Chikola—signed from Tabora United—was met by Mwamnyeto, who rose highest to head home Yanga’s third goal.

The 3-1 victory not only secured the trophy but also highlighted the team’s strength in depth and the immediate impact of their new signings.

New faces impress

In addition to Boyeli, and Chikola, Yanga also handed playing time to other summer acquisitions including Edmund John, Balla Conte, Mohamed Doumbia, and Lassine Kouma.

The performance was even more impressive considering the squad had only been in training for about 10 days prior to the match.

Head coach Romain Folz praised his team’s performance, especially their resilience after conceding so early.

“We responded in the right way—by keeping our composure and sticking to our game plan. Our new players showed great potential, and the team’s spirit was excellent,” said Folz.

Strong statement ahead of the new season

For Yanga, the win in Kigali serves as a statement of intent ahead of a demanding 2025/2026 campaign, which will see them competing in the NBC Premier League, the CAF Champions League, and domestic cup competitions.

The result will also delight the club’s supporters, who have high expectations after another busy transfer window.

Boyeli’s clinical finishing, Pacome’s creativity, and Mwamnyeto’s leadership suggest that Yanga’s blend of new talent and established stars could make them formidable opponents in the months to come.

Rayon Sport, despite the defeat, used the occasion to officially present their new players to the home fans.

While they began brightly, their inability to maintain momentum after the early lead highlighted areas for improvement before the Rwandan league kicks off.

For now, though, all the applause belongs to Yanga—who, thanks to Boyeli’s strike, Pacome’s precision, and Mwamnyeto’s late header, leave Kigali with a trophy and a boost of confidence to carry into the season ahead.