Yanga leaves Algiers with dreams dashed but with heads held high

07Jun 2023
Lloyd Elipokea
Dar es Salaam
Sport
The Guardian
Yanga leaves Algiers with dreams dashed but with heads held high

AFTER sustaining a slim 2-1 defeat to USM Alger in the first leg of their do-or-die 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup final about a week ago here in Dar es Salaam, Yanga and their army of ardent fans must have been hoping that the Jangwani Street side would be able to overturn the first leg deficit-

Tanzania's Yanga players warm up shortly before taking on Algeria's USM Alger in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup final return leg match at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers last Saturday. Yanga cruised to a 1-0 win. PHOTO: COURTESY OF YANGA

-in the return leg last Saturday in Algiers, Algeria.

However, despite seizing the lead in the opening minutes of the make-or-break second leg, Yanga ultimately failed to net more goals, which meant that the score was tied at 2-2 on aggregate once the match had run its course.

Sadly, the draw on aggregate meant that USM Alger had clinched the greatly desired CAF Confederation Cup on the away goals rule to the utter heartbreak of numberless Tanzanians.

Granted, although clinching the continental trophy proved to be a bridge too far for Yanga, the Jangwani Street club can still justifiably hold their heads high as they bowled over local fans throughout the CAF Confederation Cup.

Indeed, Yanga has amply demonstrated that our football teams need not quake in their boots at the mere thought of taking on the continent's premier football clubs.

With that in mind, it is hoped then that Yanga's overall standout performance in the CAF Confederation Cup this season will usher in a new and glorious age of remarkable dominance by our local football clubs on the African football landscape.

That last point helps us to segue nicely to the European women's football stage where one African star has been shining brightly this season to the sheer happiness of continental football supporters.

The illustrious football icon that I am referencing is Barcelona's predatory Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala who last Saturday was crowned alongside her teammates as this season's UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) winners.

Indeed, since arriving at the spectacular Nou Camp Stadium, Asisat has played a distinctly influential role in her side's quest to secure as many trophies as possible.

Having said that though, it is crucial to bear in mind that there are not many female African football luminaries plying their trade overseas, which is in stark contrast to continental men’s football where seemingly countless diamonds in the rough leave the continent every year to head for affluent European sides.

In light of this, one would like to call upon African football's governing body the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to bolster continental women's football.

We hope that if CAF can approach this task with zest and enthusiasm, then a large number of our female football stars will one day rank alongside the cream of global women's football.

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