Tanzanian’s Young Africans Sporting Club made history over the weekend by being the first side in Tanzania to reach the semi-finals in the Confederation of African Football Cup (CAF), Confederation Cup.
Young Africans also known as Yanga, secured this feat after they won 2-0 against Nigeria’s Rivers United after a brace by Fiston Kalala Mayele last weekend. Mayele, the Congolese import scored both goals at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Nigeria in the first leg. Yanga then held on at home to secure a goalless draw, ensuring they advanced to the last four of the competition for the first time in their 88-year-old history.
The Tanzanian Premier League champions will now face South African side Marumo Gallants who eliminated Egyptian club Pyramids FC via a 2-1 aggregate for a place in the final. The first leg is in Dar es Salaam on May 10 and the return match on May 17.
In a congratulatory tweet, the Consul-General of China in Zanzibar and Tanzania, Zhang Zhisheng revealed that Yanga is sponsored by Haier Group, a Chinese company. The Chinese diplomat was reacting to a tweet by the President of the East African country Samia Suluhu Hassan in the aftermath of Yanga’s victory.
The Chinese engagement in Africa has traditionally been in finance, construction, manufacturing, industry, and natural resources. Could sports be a new area of Chinese interest in Africa? Share your thoughts with us.
Amodani is a past student of Koforidua Technical University. He is majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He has served as the past president of KTU Debate and Public Society. In that capacity, he helped students understand local and global issues and the impact they can have through constructive dialogue and debate. He is passionate about community advocacy and development. He aims at engaging in national and international politics after pursuing graduate studies in International Relations and diplomacy.
