Tanzanian giants Young Africans are looking to boost their CAF Champions League fortunes on Saturday (13:00 GMT) when Yanga host Congolese champions TP Mazembe for a Group A clash in Dar es Salaam. The hosts earned a crucial point in DR Congo when the teams previously met and will now have passionate support backing them in a crucial match for both teams.
Group A Table
Games Played | Points | |
| 3 | 9 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 |
Young Africans
Yanga boss Sead Ramovic has not downplayed the importance of Saturday's clash, a must-win for the Tanzanian club who have ambitions of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals again. The Bosnian coach is earning praise for his aggressive and attacking tactics and it appears the players are figuring it out with an impressive 16 goals in their last 4 domestic league matches. Now the real test comes for the Yanga attack who have only managed one goal in three continental clashes.
It is no coincidence that the goals are flowing now that young star Clement Mzize is fully healthy. The young Tanzanian attacker and Zimbabwean striker Prince Dube have been the most productive players and it will be interesting to see if Yanga can score multiple goals since Mzize has only played 45 minutes in Champions League play. Clatous Chama and Congolese winger Maxi Mpia are reportedly back from minor injuries.
Malian goalkeeper Djigui Diarra is also back in training and could feature on Saturday. Ivorian midfielder Pacôme Zouzoua adds further creativity to the attack and Ugandan midfielder Khalid Aucho is also back to full health to offer defensive solidity.
TP Mazembe
Meanwhile for the Ravens of TP Mazembe, there appear to be no signs of an end to their attacking struggles. The club are performing adequately in domestic league play but have been forced to fight for every point in the Champions League because they lack a reliable striker. Coach Lamine Ndiaye and his team have done well to earn two points so far but suffered a major setback by conceding a late equalizer in their last meeting at home against Yanga in December.
One player who could solve the issue of scoring goals is Mali youth national team player Cheick Fofana who scored in the 1-1 draw between the teams. The 20-year-old forward will be joined by Oscar Kabwit, a 19-year-old attacker who helped DR Congo qualify for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) and continues to emerge as a young talent to watch in African football. Another important thing to note is the announced return of attacking midfielder Patient Mwamba, a popular player with supporters who has been absent due to issues described as "psychological".
The defense continues to perform well for Mazembe. Atibu Johnson, Magloire Ntambwe and Ernest Luzolo are all defenders with experience at this level and giant Senegalese goalkeeper Alioune Badara Faty is a steady performer. Mauritania national team right back Ibrahima Keita is also available after missing the first three Group A games. The defensive unit will need to limit the Yanga attack because of Mazembe's inconsistent offense and the fact that playing in Dar es Salaam as the visitors is one of the most difficult tasks in African football.
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