Dar es Salaam. Yanga continued their impressive run of form with a commanding 4-0 victory over Tanzania Prisons in a Tanzanian Premier League match on Sunday.
The win, which came at the KMC Complex, marked their second consecutive triumph at this venue after their recent move from Azam Complex.
The result propelled Yanga back into second place in the standings, tied on 33 points with Azam FC but with a superior goal difference, showing their continued dominance in the league.
The match saw Prince Dube, the team’s in-form striker, scoring once to extend his goal tally to five in three consecutive matches—four in the domestic league and one in the CAF Champions League.
The Zimbabwean forward has been one of Yanga’s key players this season, consistently finding the back of the net in crucial moments.
His contributions, alongside others, were pivotal in securing this comfortable victory.
Coach Sead Ramovic made several tactical changes to the starting lineup for this match, with the most notable being the inclusion of three foreign players: midfielders Khalid Aucho and Stephane Aziz KI, along with Dube.
The rest of the team remained local, with key figures such as Clement Mzize, Mudathir Yahya, and Farid Mussa taking up attacking roles.
In defense, Ramovic opted for an all-local backline consisting of Kibwana Shomary, Nickson Kibabage, Ibrahim Bacca, and Dickson Job.
Abubakar Khomeiny, who conceded two goals in the previous match, was rested, and his place was taken by Abutwalib Mshery.
The standout moment of the match came from Ibrahim Bacca, who scored twice, including a controversial goal that resembled Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England.
Bacca’s first goal came in the 42nd minute after finishing off a free-kick from Aziz KI that struck the post and rebounded into his path.
His second goal came in the 84th minute following a corner from substitute Pacome Zouzoua.
However, replays suggested that Bacca used his hand to score the goal, but the referee allowed it.
Regardless of the controversy, Bacca’s brace brought his total to four goals for the season, tying him with Dube at the top of the club’s scoring chart.
Clement Mzize also got on the scoresheet in the 13th minute, finishing off a well-weighted pass from Dube for his third goal of the season.
Dube then added another goal just before halftime, making it 3-0 and further solidifying his status as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards.
This goal also brought his tally to four for the season.
In terms of overall performance, Yanga were simply too strong for Prisons, who struggled to cope with the intensity and pace of the game.
Despite a coaching change earlier in the season, Prisons failed to show the improvements needed to challenge the defending champions.
The team’s inability to hold onto possession and their defensive fragility was evident throughout the game.
The absence of Nurdin Chona, who was injured in the first half after a clash with Mzize, was particularly felt in their defense.
Goalkeeper Samson Sebusebu put in a valiant effort to keep the scoreline down, making a number of crucial saves, but ultimately, there was little he could do to stop the floodgates from opening.
This defeat leaves Prisons in 15th place on the league table, just above Kagera Sugar, who also suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Simba earlier last week.
Ramovic’s tactical philosophy, which emphasizes quick turnovers and counter-attacking football, has been a key factor in their success this season.
Whenever the opposition loses the ball, Yanga pounces quickly with rapid passes towards the goal, putting immediate pressure on the opposing defense.
This high-pressing and dynamic style has made Yanga one of the most formidable teams in the league.
With this win, Yanga remain firmly in the title race, closing the gap on leaders Simba, who are only one point ahead. Simba, who have 34 points, will now have to be wary of Yanga’s rise as the two teams battle for supremacy at the top of the table.
As the season progresses, it is clear that both Yanga and Simba are set for an intense title race, with the defending champions looking increasingly dangerous with each passing week.
