Blow for Yanga as four key players to miss clash against Mamelodi Sundowns

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s football giants, Young Africans (Yanga), will miss the services of four key players in the first leg CAF Champions League  quarterfinal match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

The players are Pacome Zouzoua, Khalid Aucho, Kouassi Attohoula Yao, and Kibwana Shomari.

The players did not participate in intensive training ahead of the encounter due to the fact that they have not fully recovered.

Yanga will face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on March 30, 2024, at 9 pm East Africa Time.

Pacome and Aucho are suffering from knee injuries, while Yao is yet to recover from a hamstring injury, and Shomari is suffering from a tendon injury.

Pacome and Yao sustained their injuries on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League match against Azam FC at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Aucho sustained his injury in the match against Mashujaa of Kigoma in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League, while Kibwana was injured in the encounter against Geita Gold FC.

However, Yanga head coach Miguel Gamondi said the absence of the key players would not cause them to lose the encounter because other players are ready for the match and to win.

Gamondi said that there are players who will cover their absence and perform at their best.

Essentially, Yao’s position will be filled by Dickson Job, while Aucho and  Pacomr’s positions would be filled by Salum “Sure Boy” Abubakari and Kennedy Musonda or Max Nzengeli.

Zouzoua, Aucho, Shomari, and Yao have been instrumental figures for Yanga SC throughout the season, contributing significantly to the team’s success in domestic and international competitions and their progression in continental tournaments.

Their potential absence would undoubtedly be a significant blow to the team’s aspirations in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Probable lineup for Yanga:

 Djigui Diarra, Dickson Job, Lomalisa Mutambala, Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Salum “Sure Boy” Abubakari, Max Nzengeli, Mudathir Yahya, Joseph Guede Gnanou, Stephane Aziz KI, Kennedy Musonda