Dar es Salaam – A 67th-minute penalty by Pacome Zouzoua and a late goal by Clement Mzize sealed a commanding 2-0 victory for Young Africans (Yanga SC) over their arch-rivals Simba SC on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in a decisive Kariakoo Derby clash at a packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The result crowned Yanga champions of the NBC Premier League for the fourth consecutive season.
Yanga were awarded the spot-kick after Zouzoua was brought down in the box by Simba goalkeeper Moussa Camara, who had rushed off his line to deal with a high ball.
The Ivorian winger stepped up and converted the penalty with calm precision to break the deadlock.
That moment swung the momentum firmly in Yanga’s favor, and they never looked back.
In the 88th minute, Zouzoua again stepped into the spotlight, turning provider with a clever assist to set up substitute Mzize for the second goal — a strike that ended Simba’s title hopes and sparked wild celebrations among Yanga faithful.
With that win, Yanga closed the season on 82 points, four ahead of Simba, who remained on 78.
This emphatic victory marked Yanga’s second league win over Simba this season, having beaten them 1-0 in the first round.
The result extended Simba’s poor run in the derby, with four consecutive league losses to their fiercest rivals.
Last season, they were beaten 5-1 in the first leg and 2-1 in the return match.
Yanga’s final tally of 82 points was enough to stay ahead of Simba, who remained stuck at 78.
With just one point separating the two giants heading into the final matchday, the pressure was immense — but Yanga rose to the occasion.
Much of that success was driven by the brilliance of Pacome, who was named Man of the Match.
Not only did he score and assist, but he consistently tormented Simba’s defense from the left wing, especially full-back Shomari Kapombe.
From the opening whistle, Pacome looked locked in — playing with intent, creativity, and determination.
Every time he touched the ball, Yanga fans held their breath in anticipation.
While Yanga celebrated, Simba struggled to find their rhythm.
Their attacking midfielder, Ellie Mpanzu, had a forgettable outing.
Despite high expectations, the Congolese playmaker was unable to influence the game, repeatedly shut down by Yanga’s organized midfield.
The first half ended goalless, with little to separate the two sides.
After the break, Yanga stepped up their tempo.
The introduction of Mzize and the continued brilliance of Zouzoua proved decisive.
Yanga’s tactical discipline was evident throughout.
Their midfield trio controlled the tempo, and their defense handled Simba’s attacks with calm authority.
After the match, Yanga Head Coach Miloud Hamdi was full of praise for his players and the club’s loyal supporters:
“I am very happy for my players; I am very happy for the fans. I am very happy to be the coach of Young Africans. We were very good tactically. The team played very well.”
Yanga assistant captain Dickson Job echoed his coach’s sentiments, crediting the team’s composure under pressure:
“It wasn’t easy. The key was staying focused on the game — we knew whoever won would be champions, so we stayed focused.”
On the other side, Simba Head Coach Fadlu Davids admitted disappointment but called for reflection and regrouping:
“We are very disappointed. But we will sit with the team management to see what we can do next season,” he said.
“Well done to Yanga. Their players showed the mentality to win the game — and they won it.”
Simba captain Mohamed Hussein shared a similarly emotional reaction as the dust settled on their title hopes:
“We lost the match. Our main focus now is next season. We prepared to win everything, but we lost everything. Now we focus on what’s ahead.”
Yanga’s young forward Mzize, who scored the decisive second goal to seal the title, was visibly emotional after netting his first-ever goal in a Kariakoo Derby:
“We thank God for ending the season well. I thank God for scoring my first goal in the Kariakoo Derby,” he underscored.
When the final whistle blew, Yanga fans erupted in celebration.
Another title secured — and in the sweetest way possible: by defeating their greatest rivals in a high-stakes decider.
