Yanga seized their moment in CAF Confederation Cup’s quarterfinal tie

25Apr 2023
Michael Mwebe
Sport
The Guardian
Yanga seized their moment in CAF Confederation Cup’s quarterfinal tie

AFTER a 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal first leg played in Uyo, Nigeria on Sunday, Tanzania’s Yanga coach, Nasreddine Nabi, insisted the outfit did not make the long trip to Nigeria for revenge against Rivers United.

Tanzania's Yanga attacker, Fiston Mayele (R), negotiates his way past Nigeria's Rivers United defender, Anthony Ohaegbu, when the clubs took on each other in a 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal duel that took place at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria on Sunday. Yanga walloped Rivers United 2-0. PHOTO: COURTESY OF YANGA

Before the game, though, that was all that was talked about by the fans, management, and even Nabi's assistant, Cedric Kaze.

Nabi pointed out: “We didn’t come to Nigeria for revenge but to qualify, we lost here two years ago because Yanga wasn’t ready but still there is no revenge in football, you either have a victory or a loss, not revenge.”

Two second-half goals scored by Congolese forward, Fiston Mayele, put the Tanzanian representatives in a commanding position to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.

For many fans, it was sweet revenge though Nabi politely disagreed. Yanga seemed to be well on top and with a real chance of effectively killing the tie but appeared to give their hosts too much respect in the first half.

Though it was likely a pragmatic approach by Nabi to wait for their opportunity to finish off Rivers United and they ultimately did it in the second half.

Nabi set up his team in a more defensive 3-5-2 system before making three substitutes that changed the outcome of the game.

He replaced Lomalisa Mutambala, Farid Mussa, and Djuma Shaban with Tuisila Kisinda, Kibwana Shomari, and Jesus Moloko at the restart of the second half.

The changes worked quite well. Mayele broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when he was picked out by a brilliant through ball from captain Bakari Mwamnyeto.

The Congolese import ran to the pass before hitting a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal beating the on-rushing Rivers United goalkeeper, Sochima Victor.

It was top-class attacking play initiated by midfielder Mudathir's back pass to Mwamnyeto in the midfield, and a further example of how Yanga has the knack of seizing the crucial moments in ties.

The duo combined again for the second goal nine minutes from stoppage time, this time Mwamnyeto cutting back to Mayele after a brutal counter-attack initiated by winger, Moloko.

Throughout the 90 minutes in Uyo, Yanga put in the same away performance as they did versus Club Africain in Rades, Tunis to qualify for the Group Stage and also DR Congo's TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi to top their group.

They were composed defensively, never in a hurry to push forward and lose possession, dominant in midfield, and dangerous every time they went forward to attack Rivers United's final third.

It is the type of performance that an outfit needs on the road to go deep in CAF inter-club competitions.

This was Yanga's third away win in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup this campaign. Once is maybe lucky, twice may have been acceptable as fortune, but three is a pattern.

An individual could make a convincing argument that Yanga has been one of the best sides in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. 

It may feel like raw emotions but the numbers speak for themselves. Yanga has conceded the fewest goals in CAF Confederation Cup, boasting the best goal difference in the Group Stage.

In a nation that is deeply into Simba SC and Yanga rivalry, it would not be a surprise if the other part of the divide feels Yanga has been lucky to land a weak opponent in Rivers United.

It was such a comfortable afternoon for Yanga, with this Rivers United team being so far from the top CAF Confederation Cup competitive level that one could not say the former played that well for their 2-0 win.

It is true Rivers United might be one of the weakest opponents remaining in this season's CAF Confederation Cup but soccer supporters have to give Yanga due credit for seizing their moments.

Soccer followers also have to agree with the views of Tanzanian football observer, Salim Masoud, stating: “Rivers United weren’t very good but you maximize your chances of getting an opponent like this by winning your group as Yanga did.”

Most may not fancy Yanga winning this season's CAF Confederation Cup top honour but, at this stage, very few can bet against the outfit.

This is a team that has seized their moments after slipping against Sudan's Al Hilal in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League's Second Preliminary Round.

Yanga came through the CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage in style, beating a North African team on the road for the first time and going on to top their group at the expense of another Tunisian team.

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