Dar es Salaam. Defending champions Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga) produced a breathtaking display of attacking football this evening, February 25, sweeping aside JKT Tanzania 5-0 in a commanding Tanzania Premier League encounter played under the floodlights.
In a performance brimming with intensity, cohesion and ruthless finishing, Yanga extended their winning streak to eight consecutive league matches, reinforcing their credentials as firm favourites to retain the title.
With every passing week, the champions appear sharper, more confident and increasingly difficult to contain.
From the first whistle, Yanga imposed a relentless tempo.
Their pressing was aggressive, their passing crisp and purposeful, and their movement off the ball consistently unsettled the JKT defence.
The early pressure yielded results in just the seventh minute when Mohammed Hussein ‘Tshabalala’ opened the scoring.
A slick interchange of passes involving Prince Dube carved open the visitors’ backline and Tshabalala applied a composed finish to give the hosts a deserved lead.
The early goal injected further belief into Yanga’s play. Depu came close to doubling the advantage midway through the first half, forcing goalkeeper Ramadhan Chalamanda into a sharp save.
JKT Tanzania attempted to regroup and mount a response, but they found Yanga’s defensive structure well organised and disciplined.
Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra remained alert whenever called upon, ensuring the champions went into the interval with a solid 1-0 advantage.
If the first half belonged to Yanga in terms of control, the second half was an exhibition of dominance.
The champions returned from the break with renewed urgency and quickly shifted the match beyond their opponents’ reach.
In the 61st minute, Laurindo Dilson ‘Depu’ calmly slotted home Yanga’s second goal, marking his fifth of the league campaign and capping off a flowing team move.
Barely two minutes later, Mudathir Yahya added a third, arriving at the right moment to finish clinically and leave JKT visibly rattled.
The swift double blow effectively extinguished any lingering hopes of a comeback and turned the contest into a showcase of Yanga’s attacking prowess.
With the outcome increasingly certain, head coach Pedro Goncalves took the opportunity to rotate his squad, mindful of the demanding fixtures ahead.
Yet even with changes to personnel, Yanga’s rhythm and hunger did not diminish.
The substitutes seamlessly slotted into the system, maintaining the high tempo and territorial dominance.
As the match entered its closing stages, Yanga continued to press forward in search of more goals.
Their persistence paid off in the 85th minute when Prince Dube confidently dispatched the fourth goal, capitalising on defensive hesitation to further punish the tiring visitors.
The home crowd, buoyed by the clinical display, sensed more was to come.
Moments later, Shekhani Khamis provided the finishing touch to a memorable evening, calmly netting the fifth goal to complete a resounding 5-0 triumph.
The final whistle was met with thunderous applause, reflecting not just the scoreline but the authority with which it was achieved.
The victory lifts Yanga to 28 points, level with JKT Tanzania but with fewer matches played a significant advantage as the title race gathers pace.
Since their goalless draw against Mbeya City on September 30, 2025, the champions have been relentless, stringing together victories over Mtibwa Sugar, KMC FC, Fountain Gate FC, Coastal Union, Mashujaa FC, Dodoma Jiji FC and Namungo FC before this evening’s emphatic statement.
Beyond the statistics, it is the manner of the performances that stands out.
Yanga are not merely collecting points; they are asserting superiority with style and conviction.
Their defensive solidity, midfield control and clinical edge in front of goal combine to form a well-balanced and formidable unit.
As anticipation builds towards the forthcoming derby, Yanga head into the contest brimming with confidence and momentum.
On current form, they are not just defending champions they are setting the standard, sending a powerful message to the rest of the league that the path to the title once again runs through them.
