TZW
The 4-2 penalty loss to Singida United at Namfua Stadium in Singida yesterday pushed Yanga out of Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) race, joining their neighbours Azam who also lost 9-8 on penalties to Mtibwa Sugar at their home ground, Azam Complex, on Saturday. Simba who were the defending champions, made exit in the first round of the tournament after losing to the second- division side, Green Warriors in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam will be just watchers in the CAF Confederation Cup next year as all its teams have crashed out of the Federation Cup whose winner represents the country in the CAF Confederation Cup. The teams that have qualified for the Federation Cup semis are Stand United who eliminated Njombe Mji, JKT Tanzania who defeated Tanzania Prisons, Mtibwa Sugar and Singida United who officially joined the semis stage yesterday.
The epic match at Namfua Stadium looked tough on the both sides and balanced as each side looked determined to get an early goal. Playing on the waterlogged pitch, the encounter was tense with both teams relying on high balls but most of them were wasted as due to the poor state of the stadium.
However, Yanga had their first corner in the 23rd minute which was expertly taken by Ibrahim Ajibu who picked Yusuf Mhilu in the box and the midfielder headed home from the close range to put his side ahead. With one goal down, the hosts started to push for an equaliser, putting more men upfront, but the Jangwani-based side defence led by skipper Kelvin Yondani was concrete enough to deny goal-hungry Singida United players.
As this was not enough, the hosts danger man on the day Tafadzwa Kutinyu, probably man of the match, who on several occasions troubled Yanga’s rear department had a strike on target in 28th minute but it hit the cross bar for a goal kick to the relief of the visitors. At resumption, Singida were a better side and looked sharp upfront no wonder they managed to equalise in 47th minute thanks to Kenny Ally low flying close shot past Yanga goal stopper Youthe Rostand after a stunning one-two display.
The hosts were all over the pitch after equalising, forcing Yanga to defend in numbers so as to avoid another damage which could have put them out of ASFC championship. Obrey Chirwa had a brilliant chance to restore his side’s lead in 62nd minute when he found himself inside the penalty box, crossed a nice ball inside the danger zone but Ajibu’s header was a mess as it was easily collected by United goalkeeper Ally Mustafa.
Zambian tactician George Lwandamina was the first mentor to adjust his starting lineup in 65th minute when he introduced Emmanuel Martin for Said Juma hoping to increase momentum and hopefully get the winning goal but the hosting side was defensively good on the day. The last chance for the visitors to net probably the winning goal came in the 85th minute when Ajibu had a free kick just outside the penalty box but his volley went straight into the arms of United goalkeeper who enjoyed the clash on the day.
At the end, penalties had to judge who was to proceed to the last four of the prestigious competition and Singida United proved superior. They missed only one spot kick by Antiri while the rest namely Shafiq Batambuze, Kutinyu, Kenny Ally and Sumbi scored. For Yanga, Papy Tshishimbi and Emmanuel Martin saw their shots missing the target as Kelvin Yondani and Gadiel Michael converted theirs