In form Yanga jet out to Algeria for JS Kabylie test in CAF Cup tie

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s representatives in the CAF Champions League, Young Africans, departed yesterday for Algeria in high spirits ahead of their second Group B match, a crucial encounter against JS Kabylie scheduled for Friday night.

The match will take place at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium in Boukhalfa, located in Tizi Ouzou Province, and will kick off at 10 p.m. East African time.

Yanga travel to North Africa full of confidence after starting their group stage campaign with an impressive 1–0 victory over Morocco’s AS FAR last Saturday at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar. That win not only boosted the team’s morale but also positioned them well in a highly competitive group.

Information obtained by The Citizen indicates that the Yanga delegation left Tanzania fully prepared, having taken every necessary precaution to ensure the team remains focused and settled ahead of the high-stakes encounter.

The technical bench, led by head coach Pedro Gonçalves, has emphasized the need for maximum concentration, especially when playing away against an opponent desperate to recover from an opening defeat.

Yanga currently sit second in Group B with three points, level with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, who top the standings due to a superior goal difference. Al Ahly opened their campaign with a commanding 4–1 win against JS Kabylie in Cairo, a result that leaves the Algerian side under pressure to respond positively on home soil.

For JS Kabylie, Friday’s match represents a chance for redemption in front of their supporters. Sitting at the bottom of the group after the heavy loss, the Algerian club will view the fixture against Yanga as an opportunity to revive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

The North African side is historically strong at home, meaning Yanga must be at their best to secure another positive result.

The group’s other fixture will see AS FAR host Al Ahly at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, also on Friday at 10 p.m. East African time. Both matches are expected to significantly shape the direction of Group B as the battle for quarterfinal spots begins to intensify.

Despite their strong start, Yanga will be without striker Clement Mzize, who remains sidelined after recently undergoing knee surgery.

His absence is a blow, but the squad remains packed with experienced players capable of stepping up in his place.

The team’s recent form, tactical discipline under coach Gonçalves, and growing confidence among fans suggest that Yanga will be motivated to deliver another statement performance on the continental stage.

With momentum on their side and belief within the squad, Yanga enter Algeria determined not only to compete but to continue their march toward a historic CAF Champions League campaign