Dar es Salaam. Young Africans SC continued their impressive run in the NBC Premier League with a commanding 6–0 victory over Mashujaa FC at the KMC Complex on January 19, a result that emphatically underlined their growing momentum this season.
The emphatic win lifted Yanga to the top of the league table with 19 points, overtaking JKT Tanzania, who dropped to second place on 17 points.
Yanga began the match with two of their new signings named in the starting line-up: Allan Okello, recently signed from Uganda’s Vipers SC, and Mohamed Damaro Camara, who joined from Singida Black Stars.
Both players brought balance and composure to the side, asserting their influence from the early stages of the contest.
During the opening 45 minutes, Damaro emerged as the most effective player in the holding midfield role, operating alongside Duke Abuya, who enjoyed greater licence to advance into attacking areas.
Damaro sat slightly deeper, positioned just ahead of centre-backs Bakari Mwanyeto and Dickson Job, providing defensive stability while initiating attacking transitions.
Despite making his first league appearance for Young Africans, Damaro appeared well settled and fully integrated into the team.
His assured display was rewarded as early as the 8th minute, when he rose to head home and give Yanga the lead.
Within the first half-hour, Damaro completed 13 of 15 passes, with only two long balls failing to find their target.
In total, he attempted six long passes before the interval, four of which were successful, all directed towards the left flank where Chadrack Boka and Pacome Zouzoua consistently stretched Mashujaa’s defence.
At the attacking end, Allan Okello proved to be a key creative outlet. The Ugandan international frequently drifted in from the right wing into central positions, allowing Kibwana Shomary the freedom to surge forward down the flank.
His influence was evident in the 28th minute, when his movement and vision helped unlock Mashujaa’s defence, allowing Duke Abuya to double Yanga’s advantage.
Yanga tightened their grip on the match five minutes later, with Pacome Zouzoua finishing clinically in the 33rd minute to send the defending champions into the break with a commanding 3–0 lead.
In the 55th minute, Yanga head coach made a double substitution, withdrawing Zouzoua and Maxi Nzengeli and introducing Mudathir Yahya and Laurindo Dilson, popularly known as Depu.
The changes immediately injected additional pace and penetration into the attack.
During the first 20 minutes of the second half, Okello continued to impress, completing 10 accurate passes, misplacing only two, winning free-kicks and registering a shot on goal, although his efforts did not result in an immediate addition to the scoreline.
Further substitutions followed in the 68th minute, with Chadrack Boka and Damaro making way for Mohamed Hussein and Conte, as Young Africans maintained complete control of proceedings.
The pressure eventually told again late in the match. In the 79th minute, Prince Dube extended Yanga’s lead with a well-taken finish, before the impact of the substitutes was felt almost immediately.
Two minutes later, Depu produced a clever dribble to beat his marker and set up Mudathir Yahya, who calmly converted to make it 5–0.
Depu’s intelligent movement, pace and confidence on the ball caused persistent problems for Mashujaa’s back line, drawing loud approval from the Young Africans supporters at the KMC Complex.
His performance was fittingly capped deep into stoppage time, when he struck in the 90th minute to register his first goal for the club and complete a resounding victory.
The convincing result further reinforced Young Africans’ title ambitions this season, with their new signings already making a tangible and immediate impact.
Starting Line-ups
Young Africans SC: Abuutwalib Mshery, Kibwana Shomary, Chadrack Boka, Bakari Mwanyeto, Dickson Job, Duke Abuya, Maxi Nzengeli, Allan Okello, Prince Dube, Mohamed Camara, Pacome Zouzoua.
Mashujaa FC: Erick Johola, Mpoki Mwakinyuke, Samwel Onditi, Abdulnasir Assa, Salum Kihimbwa, Hassan Ali, Mundhir Vuai, Jafari Kibaya, Yusuf Dunia, Mohamed Salum, Samson Madeleke., Jafari Kibaya, Yusuf Dunia, Mohamed Salum, Samson Madeleke.
