AZAM FC secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Mtibwa Sugar in the CRDB Federation Cup Round of 16 clash at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, booking their place in the quarterfinal of the showdown.

The home side wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with midfielder Feisal Salum finding the net in the 11th minute. Ayoub Lyanga doubled the lead in the 29th minute, putting Azam FC firmly in control.

The second half saw Abdulhamis Suleiman ‘Sopu’ add another goal in the 70th minute, effectively sealing the win for Azam FC.

Joseph Akaminko, another standout midfielder for Azam FC, was voted as Man of the Match for his impressive performance, receiving a 500,000/- reward from the tournament sponsors.

This victory propels Azam FC into the quarterfinal of the CRDB Federation Cup, joining Singida Black Stars, Coastal Union, Namungo FC, Geita Gold FC, and Tabora United.

Following the match, Azam FC head coach Youssouph Dabo expressed his satisfaction with the result, acknowledging the team’s effort.

The coach noted: “First, I would like to thank my players for making it through this stage of the competition. The goal has been achieved, now we will continue to fight to get further.”

Dabo, however, highlighted areas for improvement, noting: “Regarding today’s game, we did not play well technically, even though we won. Some of our players haven’t been at their best level. In football, every player must be good to bring a good technical combination. But this is normal in football. What's important  is that we won the game."

Dabo emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive rhythm: “I told my players before the game that in this FA Cup, you just need to win.”

“We haven’t played a competitive match in three weeks, and that’s not ideal in football. You lose many things.  Apart from today’s mistakes, we will go back to the training field to regroup.”

Azam FC now shifts their focus back to the NBC Premier League, where they currently hold a strong second-place position with 47 points. Their impressive record boasts 14 wins, five draws, and so far two losses after 21 games.

This season, Azam FC has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. They possess a potent attack, having netted an impressive 47 goals, second only to Young Africans SC, alias Yanga. 

Leading the charge is Feisal Salum, who has contributed a staggering 18 goals (13 goals and five assists).  Kipre Junior has also played a crucial role with seven goals and eight assists.

Azam FC has recently demonstrated their resilience by securing victories in three out of their last five matches, drawing the remaining two.

Notably, their recent triumph over defending champions Yanga sent shockwaves through the league and solidified their position as serious title contenders.

With a strong performance in the CRDB Federation Cup and a comfortable second place in the NBC Premier League, Azam FC is undoubtedly a team to watch in Tanzanian football.

Their ability to overcome challenges and maintain winning momentum suggests they have a genuine shot at claiming silverware this season.