Yanga Squad

Holders Young Africans meet Rwanda’s APR in the Kagame Cup semifinal clash after dispatching hard fighters Mafunzo FC in their quarterfinal tie played at the National Stadium in Dare s Salaam yesterday.

APR earned the replay to the title holders following their superb performance to knock out fancied URA by 2-1 goals in a tense quarterfinal clash also played at the same venue earlier in the afternoon yesterday.

Yanga and APR teams had met during the group C preliminaries with the holders snatching a comprehensive 2-0 goal victory will be back in action at the National Stadium either tomorrow or Thursday depending on the outcome of today’s two other quarterfinal ties.

Both quarterfinals played yesterday were tense and thrilling especially the one involving holders and Zanzibar champions Mafunzo that extended into shootouts after a 1-1 draw result of the regulation time.

Yanga won by 5-3 penalties to book the date with the Rwanda champions in a match most likely to e a thriller as well.

The Mafunzo-Yanga match was highly entertaining as the Zanzibar champions pulled the first blood after 34 minutes through Ali Authman Manga’s header off Ali  Juma Hasan’s corner kick.

Yanga tried all tricks to penetrate through the Mafunzo defence but it was not an easy task as the Zanzibar champs had a big share of possession and looked well organized in all departments.

It was Yanga’s new marksman Said Bahanuzi who cancelled Mafunzo’s first half lead soon after resumption when he leaped high to nod home Haruna Niyonzima’s floating cross from the right flank.
 It was a tension packed encounter all the way to the end of the regulation time as either side tried to find a breakthrough.

 Yanga suffered a huge blow when their first choice goalkeeper Yaw Berko was injured to pave the way for new sign up Ali Mustafa between the posts.
Mustafa who crossed over from Yanga’s archrivals Simba in the ongoing transfer window played brilliantly to make daring saves much to the appreciation of his new team’s fans, players and officials.

Yanga were the first to kick off the penalties on the southern goal of the stadium and scored all of their shots through Said Bahanuzi, Nadir Haroub, Khamis Kiiza, Haruna Niyonzima and Athumani Idd.

Mafunzo scored the first penalty then missed the second through Said Musa Shaaban. Otherwise Muhadh Abdulrahman and Jacu Juma also had their shots on target.

Mafunzo would not take the final penalty as Yanga had already sealed off the winner through Idd for the score line to remain 5-3.

Line-ups:
Mafunzo:
Khalid Muhaji, Jaku Juma, Said Musa Shaaban,  Wahid Ibrahim, Ali Juma Hassan, Ismail Hamis Amour, Juma Authman Mmanga/Said Habib Rajab, Suleiman Kassim,Ali Juma Hassan,  Muhadh Abdulrahman,  Salum Said Shebe, Ismail Khamis Amour/Hadji Abdi Hassan.

Yanga:
Yaw Berko/Ali Mustafa, Juma Abdul, Stephano Mwasika/Idrisa Rashid, Oscar Joshua, Kelvin Yondani, Nadir Haroub, Athumani Idd,  Hamis Kiiza, Haruna Niyonzima, Said Bahanuzi, Rashid Gumbo/Jerry Tegete.