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Yanga extend Yao’s contract, target another Ivorian import

Kouassi Attohoula Yao
What you need to know:
- Yao, who joined Yanga from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in July 2023 on a two-year deal, missed the majority of last season due to a long-term injury.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian football giants Young Africans SC (Yanga) have confirmed the contract renewal of Ivorian right-back Kouassi Attohoula Yao, while also finalizing talks to sign another Ivorian, attacking midfielder Mohamed Doumbia, ahead of the upcoming league season.
Yao, who joined Yanga from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in July 2023 on a two-year deal, missed the majority of last season due to a long-term injury.
His absence forced Yanga to find a replacement, leading to the signing of Israel Mwenda from Singida Black Stars. Mwenda was brought in to strengthen the right-back position, forming a rotation with Kibwana Shomari.
Despite his injury setbacks, Yao has expressed a strong desire to continue representing the Jangwani Street club. With his current contract set to expire next month, the 27-year-old defender has opted to extend his stay at the club by signing a new one-year deal. “Yao has signed a one-year contract extension with the club,” said a source close to the player.
“He signed the new deal for free, as a gesture of commitment and willingness to make up for the season he missed due to injury. Now that he is on the road to recovery, he is determined to make a strong comeback in the upcoming season.”The club remains confident in Yao’s abilities and believes that, once fully fit, he will once again be a valuable asset to the team’s defensive line.
Meanwhile, Yanga are also in advanced negotiations to secure the services of Ivorian attacking midfielder Mohamed Doumbia, who most recently played for Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic’s top-tier league.
According to a club official, Doumbia has already arrived in Dar es Salaam to finalize contract details and undergo the necessary medical and administrative procedures before officially joining the club. “We are in the final stages of recruiting Mohamed Doumbia.
He is currently in Dar es Salaam, and we are finalizing the paperwork and other signing procedures. If all goes according to plan, we will complete the deal very soon,” the official confirmed.
Doumbia, is known for his creativity, dribbling skills, and ability to dictate play in the midfield. If the deal is completed, his arrival is expected to boost Yanga’s attacking options and provide more depth to the squad as the club prepares for domestic and continental competitions.
Yanga have been active in the transfer market as they aim to reinforce their squad following a successful season that saw them win multiple trophies. The club's ambition is to maintain its dominance in the Tanzanian Premier League and make a strong impact in the CAF competitions.