Yanga become first team to reach CAF Champions League group stage

Young Africans in action against CFFA. (Photo: Young African SC/Facebook)

Young Africans SC have secured their place in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage after completing an 8-1 aggregate victory over Madagascar’s CFFA, becoming the first club to qualify for the next phase.

The Tanzanian champions sealed their progression with a 4-1 win in the second leg at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, building on their 4-0 victory in the first meeting played at the same venue last Saturday.

Yanga took control of the return leg through Ibrahim Kazimoto, who opened the scoring in the 27th minute to extend their aggregate advantage to five goals.

Selemani Mwalimu then took centre stage after the break, scoring twice in quick succession. He struck four minutes into the second half before completing his brace in the 53rd minute to put the hosts firmly in command.

CFFA managed to pull one back in the 75th minute, but the goal did little to change the outcome of a tie that had already slipped beyond their reach.

Teenager Juma Issa Abushiri completed the scoring for Yanga in the 82nd minute, sparking celebrations among the home supporters as the club booked a place in the group stage for the fourth consecutive season.

Head coach Manqoba Mngqithi welcomed the qualification but said the team would now turn its attention to preparing for the challenges ahead.

“I am happy that we are through to the group stage and now we return to the drawing board to prepare for other matches in the busy season,” Mngqithi said.

Yanga will now await the remaining 15 qualifiers for the group stage, which is scheduled to begin in November.

Elsewhere in Dar es Salaam, Simba SC made a strong start to their second preliminary-round tie against Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto, recording a 6-1 victory in the delayed first leg.

Ibrahim Doumbia scored twice, while Nathaniel Chilambo, Elie Mpanzu, Keletso Makgalwa and Anicet Alain Oura also found the net for the Tanzanian side. 15 de Agosto scored a consolation goal in added time.

Simba will seek to complete the job in the return leg on Sunday, October 25, in Dar es Salaam.

Other clubs from the CECAFA region will also be in action as the preliminary rounds continue. Rwanda’s APR FC travel to face Egypt’s Zamalek on Saturday, October 24, while El Merriekh SC Bentiu face Pyramids FC and Sudan’s Al Merrikh host Guinea’s Horoya AC on the same day.

Sudan’s Al Hilal are scheduled to host Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna in Kigali on Sunday as the race for the remaining group-stage places intensifies.