Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) have stormed into the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after a convincing 2-0 win over Angola’s Wiliete Benguela at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Pacome Zouzoua opened the scoring in the 70th minute before Aziz Andabwile sealed the result in the 86th minute, giving Yanga a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory, having already won 3-0 away in Angola on September 19, 2025.
Goals in that first-leg clash came from Andabwile, Edmund John, and Prince Dube.
Folz’s Enigma
What stands out under Yanga’s new French coach, Romain Folz, is unpredictability.
Despite consistent victories, the tactician has yet to settle on a first-choice XI. Folz frequently rotates, leaving fans unsure of who will start, but results keep flowing.
Against Wiliete, Folz made eight changes from the line-up that featured in the opening Premier League win over Pamba Jiji.
Only goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, captain Dickson Job, and midfield dynamo Maxi Mpia Nzengeli retained their places.
Regulars like Kibwana Shomari, Chadrack Boka, Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad, Andabwile, Mudathir Yahya, Duke Abuya, Zouzoua, and Prince Dube were recalled after being rested in the domestic league fixture.
A 100pc Winning Run
Though sections of supporters argue that performances are yet to peak, Yanga remain flawless.
They have won all four of their competitive fixtures so far this season, scoring nine goals without conceding.
The campaign began with a 1-0 win over rivals Simba in the Community Shield on September 16.
That was followed by the 3-0 triumph away to Wiliete, a 3-0 win against Pamba Jiji in the Premier League, and now the 2-0 home victory against Wiliete.
Both attack and defence look formidable, suggesting Yanga are slowly building into a team capable of going deep in continental football again.
Andabwile: The Unexpected Star
One of the brightest surprises has been Aziz Andabwile. Initially tipped to leave Yanga this season, he has grown into a midfield anchor under Folz.
His performances have overshadowed new signing Mussa Balla Conte, who was brought in from Uganda’s Singida Black Stars as a direct replacement for departed stalwart Khalid Aucho.
Conte arrived with hype, having previously attracted interest from Simba under coach Fadlu Davids.
But it is Andabwile who has stepped up, delivering game-changing performances and proving he deserves a starting spot.
COSAFA Connection Continues
In the second preliminary round, Yanga face another COSAFA opponent Malawi’s Silver Strikers, who advanced past Madagascar’s Elgeco Plus on away goals after a 1-1 draw away and a 0-0 stalemate at home.
Silver Strikers, founded in 1977 by staff of the Reserve Bank of Malawi and nicknamed The Bankers, are the reigning Malawi Super League champions.
They have nine league titles, one Malawi national championship (1985), three FAM Cups, and three Top 8 Cups.
Their home ground, the Silver Stadium in Lilongwe, holds 18,000 fans.
Yanga will begin away in Malawi between October 17–19 before returning home for the decisive leg at Benjamin Mkapa between October 24–26.
Should they progress, it will be their third successive appearance in the group stage after back-to-back qualifications in 2023–24 and 2024–25.
Coaches Speak Out
After the Wiliete win, Folz explained his philosophy:
“Every player who shows commitment in training will get a chance to play. We still have a lot of work to do; it’s not something that changes overnight. But I believe, with time, this team will become very strong under my leadership.”
Wiliete coach Bruno Ferry, formerly of Azam, admitted the Angolan side paid the price for mistakes in the first leg:
“It’s not easy to play against Yanga, a team with so much experience in continental competitions. We learned valuable lessons that we’ll take back into the Angolan league. We’ll be stronger in the future.”
With flawless form, solid defence, and a coach who refuses to be predictable, Yanga may not yet dazzle, but they keep winning and in football, that is what matters most.
