A superstar performance from Fiston Mayele saw the Congolese striker score a goal and provide an assist as Tanzanian champions Young Africans confirmed their place in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup with Wednesday’s 2-1 semifinal second leg victory over South Africa’s Marumo Gallants. Gallants had their chances to get back into the semifinal but Yanga’s victory gives them a 4-1 aggregate victory and a matchup against either USM Alger of Algeria or Ivorian champions ASEC Mimosas in the final. With their surprise run now over, the South African club will turn their attention to avoiding relegation from the DStv Premiership where they need a result at Swallows FC on Saturday.
The Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg was the scene for the second leg where Gallants attempted to push forward and overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat in Dar es Salaam. After an opening twenty-five minutes without a clear opportunity for either team, Gallants created several chances the best of which came in the 33rd minute when striker Ranga Chivaviro set up midfielder Celimpilo Ngema for a low shot that Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra got down to save with his feet.
Yanga punished Gallants for failing to find the goal they needed and it was Mayele who put the semifinal beyond doubt in first half stoppage time. A mistake from Gallants substitute defender Ayanda Nkili allowed the former AS Vita Club forward in behind where his initial shot was tipped into the air by keeper Washington Arubi only for Mayele to follow up and tap the rebound into an empty net.
Mayele provided another brilliant individual effort to double Yanga’s lead in the 62nd minute when he was isolated with defender Tshepo Gumede and pushed the ball into space, sprinting past Gumede to cross for Kennedy Musonda to finish. Gallants found a late consolation through Chivaviro in second half stoppage time but it was far too late to diminish the celebrations of the traveling Yanga supporters, who will witness their team in the final of a CAF club competition for the first time in the history of the Tanzanian giants.
Highlights from the second leg are below.
