This comes on the heels of Yanga’s Community Shield triumph over bitter rivals Simba earlier this week at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, which was Folz’s first significant test in charge of the Jangwani Street side
Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) head coach Romain Folz faces his first major continental challenge today as the Tanzanian giants travel to Angola to take on Wiliete SC at the 11 de Novembro Stadium in Luanda.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm East African time, marking Folz’s debut in the CAF Champions League as Yanga’s head coach.
This comes on the heels of Yanga’s Community Shield triumph over bitter rivals Simba earlier this week at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, which was Folz’s first significant test in charge of the Jangwani Street side.
Despite the victory, today’s encounter presents a tougher challenge, with Angola’s reigning champions determined to assert themselves on home soil.
Folz said he has already assessed his squad following the Community Shield win and is confident in their readiness. Yanga CEO Andre Mtine emphasized the importance of focus and preparation: “Our opponents are Angola’s champions.
You can’t win a league by luck—it’s a long journey. Our technical bench has studied their squad carefully, and we must fight to achieve our goals. I urge our fans to pray for us, and I’m confident we will achieve positive results.”
Wiliete SC will rely on several key players, including former Yanga midfielder Skudu Makudubela, goalkeeper Agostinho Calunga, midfielder Beni Jetour, and striker João Chingando Manha, all of whom featured in the 2024 CHAN tournament.
Yanga’s defense must also be wary of Kaporal, who scored twice against Zambia in CHAN 2024.
Historically, Yanga have performed well against Angolan sides in CAF competitions. Their first clash came in 2007 against Petro de Luanda, losing 2-0 away but winning 3-0 at home to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
In 2016, Yanga faced G.D. Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminaries, winning 2-0 at home and narrowly losing 1-0 away to progress 2-1 on aggregate.
This season, Yanga’s goal is to reach the CAF Champions League group stage for the third consecutive time. Under Miguel Gamondi in 2023–24, they reached the quarterfinals, but last season’s mid-season coaching change saw Sead Ramovic struggle to maintain the team’s momentum.
Now, Folz carries the responsibility of steering Yanga back to continental success and ensuring they meet the club’s ambitious objectives.
