Dar es Salaam. The highly anticipated Kariakoo Derby between Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga SC) and Simba SC remains in limbo after Yanga officially reaffirmed on Monday, May 5, 2025 that it will not participate in the match.
The derby was initially scheduled for March 8, 2025, but was postponed after Simba SC requested a delay, claiming they were denied access to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for official pre-match training.
Yanga viewed this as a deliberate tactic by Simba to disrupt their momentum and argued that Simba should be considered to have lost the match automatically.
They argued that Simba had no legitimate reason to miss the game, and that league regulations warranted a walkover.
Despite this, the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) reviewed the situation and approved the postponement, triggering a dispute that has now lasted for months.
This dispute deepened when, on May 1, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled, advising Yanga to first exhaust domestic legal channels before escalating the matter further.
However, on Monday, Yanga expressed their lack of faith in local football committees, accusing Tanzanian football authorities of “persistent injustice” and “gross violations” of regulations.
“Due to persistent injustice, gross violations of regulations, and blatant favoritism towards some teams by the football authorities in Tanzania, the leadership of Young Africans Sports Club has no trust in these bodies,” Yanga stated.
Adding: “Our position regarding match number 184 remains unchanged—we will not participate in that match under any circumstances.”
Yanga also declared its intent to continue the fight for justice with the full support of its fan base, stating that “all Yanga members and fans are prepared to defend their rights by any means necessary” to stop what they see as ongoing football injustices.
TPLB responds
In a swift rejoinder, TPLB Chairperson Steven Mnguto addressed the controversy on Monday, denying any accusations of favoritism.
“No team has been given special treatment,” Mnguto said. “Though at times, discretion has been used to protect the integrity and continuity of the league.”
Mnguto also criticized Yanga’s decision to take the case to the CAS, suggesting that internal mechanisms could have resolved the dispute without escalating it internationally.
“This matter did not need to be taken outside the country. There were proper channels internally that could have handled it,” he said.
On May 1, in response to the CAS ruling, the TPLB issued a statement reaffirming the board’s commitment to concluding the 2024/2025 season and confirmed that a new date for the highly anticipated derby would be announced 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.
Mnguto said on Monday that they will sit down to see if a resolution can be reached.
TFF: A Response Coming
As of May 5, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) had not released an official statement.
However, TFF Secretary General Wilfred Kidau told The BizLens that a response is forthcoming.
“These are serious allegations. We will meet as an institution to review them and then issue an official statement,” he said.
Yanga’s position: No to the rescheduled derby
Since March 8, Yanga have consistently demanded to be awarded three points by default and publicly rejected any effort to reschedule the derby.
Their refusal led them to file an appeal with CAS under case number CAS 2025/A/11298.
CAS decision: Domestic channels first
On May 1, CAS advised Yanga to exhaust all internal avenues before seeking international intervention.
But on Monday, May 5, the club responded by reiterating its distrust in Tanzania’s football governance structures.
What’s Next?
With the league approaching its final stretch, questions around governance, fairness, and regulatory transparency have taken center stage in Tanzanian football—claims that the authorities have dismissed.
While Yanga stands firm in its refusal to play the rescheduled match, the fate of the Kariakoo Derby—arguably the biggest fixture in East African football—hangs in the balance.
Whether through negotiation or disciplinary action, a resolution will need to be reached soon.
For now, fans of both clubs are left waiting in suspense as one of the most contentious episodes in recent league history unfolds.
