Derby looms as Yanga, Azam qualify

MAINLAND champions, Young Africans and Kagame Cup champions Azam Football Club, have qualified into the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) semi-finals after winning their respective matches in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Yanga beat Mtwara’s Ndanda FC 2-1 at the National Stadium, while Azam FC comprehensively thrashed Tanzania Prisons from Mbeya 3-1 at their Azam Complex in Chamazi.

They join Shinyanga’s Stand United into the last four. Stand saw off Geita Gold 3-0 at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza last Saturday.

Now, there is a possibility of either Yanga or Azam to face Simba in the semi-finals and this can happen if Simba eliminate their quarter-final opponents Tanga’s Coastal Union in the last quarter final game scheduled for April 11 at the National Stadium.

At the National Stadium, Yanga who eliminated JKT Mlale with a hard earned 2-1 victory to book a place into the quarter finals, were targeting to maintain their winning streak and cruise into the semi-final stage.

Goals by Paul Nonga in the first half and a second half strike from the spot kick by Kelvin Yondani, sandwiched Kigi Makassy’s goal to earn Yanga a place in the semi-finals.

Yanga started strongly pushing hard for an early goal and Paul Nonga, who was left unmarked inside the box, saw his shot cleared by goalkeeper, Jeremiah Kisubi, just two minutes from the kick off.

Yondani made a rare stride forward in the 13th minute but his shot failed to hit the target.

Ndanda reorganised and striker Atupele Green almost caught the champions napping and goalkeeper, Deogratius Munishi was forced to a full stretch to stop his goal bound shot in the 19th minute.

After several near misses, Nonga rose above a defender to head home Juma Abdul’s set piece in the 27th minute.

Yanga continued to pour forward and Simon Msuva’s shot hit the top bar in the 35th minute. Despite being a goal down, Ndanda kept Yanga fans guessing in most part of the first half as they displayed a determined football, threatening to pull level in several occasions.

After the break, Ndanda continued to impress and in the 56th minute, Makassy, a former Yanga and Simba player, outwitted Msuva to fire a 30-yard shot that precisely beat the keeper for an equaliser.

From then, it was an end to end affair but Yanga looked a more likely side to score as Zimbabwean striker Donald Ngoma and Msuva made several attempts.

After an hour mark, Green tested the keeper with a long drive but Munishi was well alerted to clear the danger.

In the 67th minute, Geoffrey Mwaishuya came in for Deus Kaseke and immediately thereafter, Yanga were awarded a penalty after goal bound Msuva was fouled in the box by Paul Ngalema. Yondani stepped up and sent the keeper a wrong way in the 69th minute and consequently Ngalema was sent off for a foul.

Despite playing with a man down, the visitors still kept on pressing for an equaliser but Yanga defence stood firm. At the Azam Complex, two goals by defender Shomari Kapombe and a strike from Khamis Mcha earned Azam a place into the semis. Tanzania Prisons consolation goal was netted by Jeremiah Juma.

Both Yanga and Azam have a tight schedule this week. Yanga will be in action for the Mainland Premier League match against Kagera Sugar at the National Stadium on Sunday, while Azam will travel to Mwanza to face Toto Africans.

The teams will use the game as part of their preparations for the CAF club competitions. Yanga have a daunting Champions League major tie against the eight times winners of the tournament Al Ahly Sporting Club of Egypt, while Azam face Esperance of Tunisia in Confederation Cup.