Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA’s continental campaign came to a grinding halt yesterday as Young Africans SC and Azam FC failed to reach the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup respectively.
The duo joins Simba SC and Singida Black Stars, already eliminated before the final round of group fixtures, marking a sobering end to the country’s dreams of African silverware.
At a raucous New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, Young Africans did everything required — except control events elsewhere.
A commanding 3–0 victory over JS Kabylie saw the Tanzanian champions finish third in Group B on eight points from six matches.
Two wins, two draws and two defeats represented a respectable return, but not enough to claim one of the two coveted quarter-final spots.
The defining moment arrived in the 34th minute when Kabylie goalkeeper Seif Benrabah brought down Pacome Zouzoua inside the area. Laurindo Aurélio stepped up and buried the penalty with authority, igniting hopes in the stands.
Aurélio doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute, rising to meet Allan Okello’s pinpoint corner before powering home to complete his brace.
Three minutes later, Chadrack Boka applied the finishing touch after slick work from Prince Dube, turning the contest into a celebration.
But while Yanga were taking care of business, the decisive blow was being delivered elsewhere.
Al Ahly SC held AS FAR to a goalless draw, a result that lifted the Egyptians to the top of the group on 10 points and secured second place for the Moroccan side on nine — one clear of Yanga.
The final whistle in Zanzibar brought cheers. The fulltime result elsewhere brought silence.
If Yanga’s exit was cruel, Azam’s was conclusive. Needing a near-perfect combination of results, Azam travelled to the Mohammed V Stadium knowing the margin for error had vanished.
Instead, Wydad Casablanca delivered a clinical 2–0 defeat that ended any lingering hopes.
Azam finished third in Group B with nine points from three wins and three losses, three short of Maniema’s tally of 12 and well behind Wydad’s commanding 15.
The warning signs were immediate. Wydad dominated possession and tempo, repeatedly stretching the Tanzanian side.
For over an hour, Manula kept his side alive with a string of sharp saves, particularly from Ziyech’s set-pieces and deliveries.
The resistance finally cracked in the 64th minute. A flowing move between Nordin Amrabat and Ziyech split the defence, and Mohamed Moufid finished clinically from inside the box.
Azam’s best opening came late when Jephte Kitambala connected with Himid Mkami’s pass, only to be denied comfortably by El Mehdi Benabid.
As the clock ticked down, Wydad struck again. Walid Nassi’s incisive through ball released Ziyech, whose low drive was parried by Manula.
Nassi reacted quickest, tucking away the rebound to seal the tie.
Across both competitions, Tanzania’s representatives showed flashes of quality but ultimately fell victim to fine margins, missed opportunities and unforgiving group mathematics.
