Dar es Salaam. Young Africans SC (Yanga) have taken another bold step in reinforcing their technical bench by appointing veteran Tunisian goalkeeper coach, Majdi Mnasria, a seasoned tactician whose arrival is expected to usher in a new era of professionalism and elite performance in the goalkeeping department.
Mnasria, a coach with over a decade of experience in elite African football, joins the Tanzanian champions at a critical time just weeks before the kickoff of the 2025–2026 campaign.
His recruitment underscores Yanga’s commitment to strengthening every department of the squad as they aim to defend their Tanzania Premier League title for the fifth consecutive season and go further in the CAF Champions League than ever before.
The Tunisian replaces Alae Meskini, who officially joined AS FAR Rabat of Morocco on February 19, 2025, after a highly rated spell at Yanga.
Mr Mnasria is not only stepping into the shoes of a respected predecessor but also reuniting with French tactician Romain Folz, who was recently unveiled as Yanga’s new head coach.
The duo share a rich history of collaboration, having previously worked side by side at Lamontville Golden Arrows in South Africa and more recently at Olympique Akbou in Algeria.
At Olympique Akbou, during the 2024–2025 season, Folz served as the Sporting Director while Mnasria took charge of the goalkeeping unit.
Despite limited resources, the two helped the club finish 11th in the Algerian Ligue 1 a respectable position that highlighted their ability to optimize talent and instill discipline.
Their strong mutual understanding, built both on and off the pitch, is seen as a vital element in Yanga’s ambitious blueprint for local dominance and continental success.
Yanga insiders describe Mnasria as a “detailed, demanding, and dynamic” coach whose impact is often visible within weeks of arrival.
Known for his intense training drills, deep video analysis, and strong psychological support for goalkeepers, he is expected to work closely with Yanga’s shot-stopping trio: Djigui Diarra, Aboutwalib Mshery, and Khomeiny Abubakar.
His coaching résumé is impressive and stretches beyond South Africa and Algeria. In Tunisia, he held notable roles with clubs such as El Gawafel Sportives de Gafsa, Stade Gabsien Sports, Averine Sportif de Casserine, and Tunisia ES Metlaoui.
In each stop, Mnasria left a mark for his meticulous approach to improving reflexes, positioning, communication, and footwork among his goalkeepers.
He’s particularly praised for transforming raw talents into dependable shot-stoppers.
More than just a technical addition, Mnasria’s arrival is symbolic of Yanga’s transformation into a continental football force.
Over the last four seasons, the club has enjoyed domestic dominance, winning league titles and reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2023.
Now, under the leadership of Folz and with Mnasria in his corner, Yanga is signaling that their eyes are firmly set on winning the CAF Champions League a feat that would rewrite Tanzanian football history.
Sources close to the club have described the Folz-Mnasria combination as a silent weapon a pairing built on mutual trust, tactical compatibility, and a shared vision for modern football.
In a highly competitive season where the margins between victory and defeat will be razor-thin, such chemistry within the technical bench could be decisive.
Their reunion comes at a time when rivals Simba SC are also strengthening, setting the stage for another fierce battle for supremacy in Tanzanian football.
With each side reinforcing not just their squads but also the brains behind the action, the 2025–2026 season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
