- Yanga beat El Merrikh 1-0
- Simba drew 1-1 with Power Dynamos, go through on away goal
- Burundian side Bumamuru beaten by Sundowns
Tanzania will have two teams in the group stages of the CAF Champions League for the first time ever, after giants Yanga and Simba both progressed after the conclusion of the first round matches.
Yanga progressed to the group stages for the first time in 25 years after edging out Sudan’s El Merreikh 1-0 on the vening and 3-0 on aggregate in the first round.
Clement Mzize scored the solitary goal for Wanajangwani who continue with their impressive performance in Continental football after reaching the final of the Confederation Cup last season.
“I am really happy and satisfied. We deserved to win and qualify. The performance was really good. We managed to control the game even when we changed the system. We created many chances and I am pleased. Sometimes it is difficult to play with anxiety but I think we managed that well,” said Miguel Gamondi, the Yanga SC coach.
He added; “This is historical for Yanga and I am happy for the people at the club and the fans. These players deserve to be in the Champions League.”
Mzize scored the lone goal of the match in the 66th minute with a brilliant powerful header, connecting to a Joyce Lomalisa cross from the left.
Yanga dominated the duel and ensured they saw off the result to book a place in the elite list.
Arch rivals Simba also progress
Meanwhile, their arch rivals Simba SC had to work their socks off and were beneficiaries of an own goal to progress to the group stage. They came from behind to draw 1-1 with Power Dynamos of Zambia at the Azam Complex in Chamazi, taking the aggregate score to 3-3.
Clatous Chama’s late equalizer in Ndola two weeks ago was the difference, the 2-2 draw away from home enabling them to sneak through on the away goal rule.
Andy Boyeli had given Dynamos the lead in the 16th minute, but the home side rallied with Kondwani Chiboni scoring in his own net trying to cut off a cross from the right in the 68th minute.
Boyeli broke the deadlock early in the game with a brilliant finish, wriggling his way at the edge of the box before taking a low powerful strike that beat the keeper.
In the second half, knowing that a place in thr groups was tinkering away, Simba put in the pressure. They were rewarded after 68 minutes when Chiboni directed the ball into an empty net, the keeper off his area as he sprawled on the floor trying to cut out John Raphael Bocco’s cross.
Difficult assignment
“It was difficult but we worked well as a team. The target was to achieve a place in the group stage and I am glad that we have that. Now we plan to improve on some things to compete well with the best in the continent,” Said Simba’s coach Robert Oliveira.
Meanwhile, fellow East African side, Bumamuru of Burundi, wasn’t as lucky as they were eliminated by South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns who beat them 2-0 on the day at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, and 6-0 on aggregate.
They had won the first leg 4-0 in Dar es Salaam.
In the return tie at home, Sundowns resisted a fierce challenge from the Burundians, but Mothobi Mvala and Teboho Mokoena scored in either half to hand them victory.
Mvala opened the scoring early in the 11th minute when he connected perfectly with a cross to head the ball home. Sundowns continued to dominate with Thapelo Morena and Aubrey Modiba coming close.
In the second half, Sundowns looked to close down the game quick enough and they did so just four minutes in, Mokoena striking a belter from a distance to beat the keeper.
The Brazilians managed to see off the game comfortably and earn a slot in the groups, the surge for a second CAF CL title remaining on course.
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