Fabrizio Romano puts Yanga’s new Champions League kits on global stage

The move is believed to be the first time Romano has been used to unveil a Yanga kit and could be among the first such occasions involving an African club, although there is no readily available independent record confirming that it is the first African club kit he has ever unveiled.

During the presentation, Romano opened a specially packaged collection containing Yanga’s shirts before highlighting the designs and colours that have long been associated with the club.

“Here we are and here we go, Young Africans Club, the most decorated football club in Tanzania, East Africa, presents the CAF Champions League 2026/2027 kit,” said Romano.

He then described the collection as carrying the club’s identity onto the continental stage, concluding with the message: “Wananchi pride, built for the continental stage. Yanga, Bingwa.”

The presentation has added another dimension to Yanga’s preparations for the new African campaign, with the club using one of football’s most influential digital personalities to take its brand beyond Tanzania and East Africa.

The collection features three distinctive designs, with Yanga’s traditional green and yellow colours remaining at the heart of the range.

The green jersey provides the strongest connection to the club’s identity, combining the familiar green base with yellow and lighter green detailing. Romano appeared particularly impressed by the design, describing it as his favourite while going through the collection.

The yellow shirt, meanwhile, provides another link to Yanga’s traditional colours, while the black design introduces a more contemporary appearance through gold detailing.

The black-and-gold combination gives the collection a premium feel, while retaining elements of Yanga’s visual identity through the club crest and other details.

The designs are part of Yanga’s wider 2026/27 kit collection, which was officially launched in August. Kit specialist Footy Headlines reported that the home, away and third shirts were produced by Tanzania-based brand GSM, with the designs incorporating green, yellow, black and gold elements.

The timing of the international presentation is also significant, coming as Yanga prepare to begin another demanding CAF Champions League campaign.

Yanga will face Botswana’s Gaborone United in the first preliminary round, with the first leg scheduled for September 5 before the return match in Dar es Salaam on September 12.

CAF has confirmed that the first preliminary-round matches will be played between September 4 and 6, with the return legs scheduled for September 11 to 13.

The club enters the competition carrying considerable expectations after another successful domestic campaign, while also strengthening its squad for the continental challenge.

CAF recently highlighted Yanga among the African clubs that have made significant moves in the transfer market ahead of the new interclub season, including the signing of Namibia international striker Peter Shalulile.

For Yanga, however, the latest development is not only about football. Having Romano introduce the Champions League collection gives the club access to an audience far beyond its traditional supporters and demonstrates how African clubs are increasingly using global football personalities and digital platforms to strengthen their brands.

Romano’s involvement also gives Yanga an opportunity to associate its historic identity with the modern global football economy, where jerseys have become more than playing equipment and increasingly serve as symbols of club culture, identity and commercial appeal.

With the Champions League campaign now approaching, Yanga will hope the attention generated by its new collection is followed by performances capable of matching the message attached to the shirts: continental ambition, Wananchi pride and a determination to make their mark on Africa’s biggest club stage.