Dar es Salaam. The fate of the much-anticipated Kariakoo Derby between Yanga and Simba remains unclear following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday, which declined to hear Yanga’s appeal over the postponed March 8 fixture—directing the club to first exhaust legal avenues within the country.
Yanga (Young Africans SC) approached the CAS seeking to challenge the Tanzania Premier League Board’s (TPLB) decision to postpone the highly anticipated derby match against their arch-rivals, Simba SC.
The Jangwani street team argued that Simba’s failure to appear for the originally scheduled fixture constituted a forfeiture and, as such, they demanded that the three points be awarded to them in accordance with league regulations.
However, CAS said it could not proceed with the case due to the absence of a final ruling by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) bodies and incomplete supporting documents.
While the decision allows TPLB to proceed with revising the league schedule, it has not resolved the central dispute—nor has Yanga indicated any willingness to play the rescheduled fixture.
In a statement on Thursday, May 1, TPLB confirmed it is moving forward with season preparations and will announce a new date for the derby soon.
“Following the CAS decision, the Tanzania Premier League Board continues its preparations to conclude the 2024/2025 Premier League season and is making necessary adjustments to the league schedule, including the match between Yanga and Simba,” the statement read.
Yanga Doubles Down
Despite the CAS ruling, Yanga has not softened its position. A senior club official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the club will now pursue the matter through the TFF Appeals Committee—as advised by CAS—as the next step within the domestic legal framework.
“We have not given up. We respect the CAS decision, but since there is still an opportunity for an appeal within the country, we will continue our pursuit of justice,” the official said.
Since March 8, when the match was originally scheduled, Yanga has consistently demanded to be awarded three points and publicly declared it would not agree to a new date. However, when asked by journalists on Friday whether the club would now participate in the rescheduled fixture, Communications Manager Ally Kamwe declined to give a direct answer—neither confirming nor denying Yanga’s readiness to play.
What Triggered the Dispute?
The standoff began when Simba SC requested a postponement of the March 8 clash, claiming they were denied access to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for official pre-match training. After reviewing the situation, TPLB approved the postponement.
Yanga, however, viewed the move as a tactical ploy by Simba to disrupt their momentum and insisted that the match should be treated as forfeited. They argued that Simba had no legitimate reason to miss the game and that league regulations warranted a walkover.
They took their case to CAS, also requesting an injunction to stop TPLB from rescheduling the game until the matter was resolved. But CAS declined to hear the appeal, citing procedural gaps—including the lack of a final ruling from TFF’s internal judicial bodies.
What’s Next?
With CAS stepping aside, the legal process now shifts to the TFF Appeals Committee. Meanwhile, the TPLB is expected to set a new date for the derby. But whether Yanga will accept that remains in doubt.
Yanga and Simba remain neck-and-neck in the league standings, and the result of the derby could have major implications for the 2024/25 Premier League title—provided the match takes place.
As pressure mounts from fans and stakeholders, the question lingers: Will Tanzania’s biggest football rivalry be settled on the pitch, or in the boardroom?
