The result puts Yanga in a strong position heading into the second leg, with the Tanzanian champions needing either a goalless draw or a victory to advance to the next preliminary round
Dar es Salaam. Yanga SC moved a step closer to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after Seleman Mwalimu struck in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw against Gaborone United in the first leg of their opening-round tie in Botswana today, September 5, 2026.
Mwalimu’s 90+5th-minute equaliser rescued Yanga from what looked like a damaging defeat and gave the Tanzanian champions a valuable result ahead of the return leg in Dar es Salaam.
Gaborone United took the lead in the 33rd minute through Namibia forward Aubrey Amseb, who produced a powerful free-kick that beat Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
The hosts appeared set to hold on to their advantage after spending much of the second half defending their lead, but Yanga continued to push forward in search of an equaliser.
Their persistence finally paid off deep into stoppage time when Mwalimu, who came on in the 81st minute for Peter Shalulile, found the decisive goal to level the contest.
The result puts Yanga in a strong position heading into the second leg, with the Tanzanian champions needing either a goalless draw or a victory to advance to the next preliminary round.
A 1-1 draw in the return leg would take the tie to a penalty shootout, while any draw with two or more goals would see Gaborone United advance on away goals if that competition rule applies. Yanga, therefore, will be keen to avoid conceding and complete the job in front of their home fans.
The second leg will be played on September 12 at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, where Yanga will look to build on Mwalimu’s late intervention and secure their place in the next round.
The result also extends Yanga’s strong run in the CAF Champions League in recent seasons.
The Jangwani-based club’s last first-round exit came in the 2021/22 season when they were eliminated by Nigeria’s Rivers United 2-0 on aggregate. Yanga lost the first leg 1-0 on September 12, 2021, before suffering another 1-0 defeat in the return leg in Nigeria a week later.
Since that disappointment, Yanga have established themselves as regular contenders in the latter stages of the competition, making their latest result in Botswana an encouraging start to this campaign.
For Gaborone United, the draw continues their recent encounters with Tanzanian opposition. The Botswana side faced Simba in the CAF Champions League first round last season, drawing 1-1 in Dar es Salaam before losing 1-0 at home to exit the competition.
