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Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) head coach Miguel Gamondi has stated that his starting lineup ahead of the quarter-final return leg of the CAF Champions League against Mamelodi Sundowns will undergo changes.
Yanga will be in action on April 5, 2024, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa and the encounter will kick off at 9pm East African time.
As tension mounts for the eagerly-awaited clash, all eyes are on Pacome Zouzoua and Khalid Aucho, who have been entrusted with special responsibilities for the upcoming match.
Gamondi has expressed confidence in the potential contributions of Pacome and Aucho in Friday’s encounter.
The two players did not feature in the first leg as they were nursing their injuries.
He said that there are technical and tactical changes that will come as a surprise to their opponents during the encounter.
He explained that the improved fitness levels of Aucho and Pacome, along with sharpened skills in utilizing scoring chances, give him hope that his Jangwani Street men will eliminate Mamelodi and storm into the semis.
Yanga and Mamelodi Sundowns played out a goalless draw in the first leg held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on March 30, 2024.
Read: Yanga in tight spot after barren draw against Mamelodi Sundowns
Yanga need at least a 1-0 victory or a 1-1 draw to qualify for the semis of the competition.
Should the teams record a barren draw, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.
“We have assembled a complete squad, ready to take on Mamelodi. Our team spirit is high, and we are excited to have our full complement of players available,” said Gamondi.
“We are to make tactical changes as needed, which means ensuring that we field the best possible lineup,” he insisted.
Despite the uncertainties, Gamondi’s intimate knowledge of Mamelodi Sundowns’ tactics from his previous coaching stint with the team instills fear in the South African camp.
Gamondi also emphasized the importance of capitalizing on any mistakes to be made by Mamelodi Sundowns’ star-studded lineup, recognizing the pressure on the reigning African Football League champions to maintain their status.
The Argentinean tactician also emphasized the need to be very keen against Mamelodi Sundowns, who dominated the first leg while creating only two scoring chances.
Yanga created four scoring chances in the encounter.
As the countdown to the kick-off begins, Yanga’s meticulous planning and tactical acumen will be put to the test against Mamelodi’s formidable challenge.
All eyes will possibly be on Pacome, Aucho, and teammates as they aim to script a historic chapter in Yanga’s continental journey.
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