YOUNG Africans will begin their CAF Champions League campaign against Rwandan club Vital’O FC, following the draw held last Thursday in Cairo. The Premier League champions will be aiming for a strong start in the first round, with a potential second-round clash against either Commercial Bank of Ethiopia or Ugandan side AS Villa awaiting them if they emerge victorious.

Young Africans head coach Miguel Gamondi has expressed strong ambitions for the team. 

“The goals of the club and myself as a coach are to ensure that the team qualifies for the group stage by winning all our matches. Together with the technical bench, we will develop significant strategies to achieve this,” he stated.

Gamondi’s commitment to the club extends beyond just local success. 

“For me, the biggest reason why I am with Yanga is to compete in the CAF Champions League. I want to show the entire continent, and not just Tanzania but Africa specifically, that there are teams here capable of competing with the best in the CAF Champions League,” he emphasized.

Ahead of their clash with Vital’O FC, Gamondi admitted he has limited experience with Burundian clubs but remains optimistic. 

“To be honest, I have never played against any Burundian club, although I remember visiting the country with the national team of Burkina Faso. I believe that Yanga fans will turn up in large numbers as they did in last season’s match against El Merrikh in Rwanda,” he added.

Young Africans’ prospects of reaching the group stage appear promising, contingent upon their performance against their assigned opponents. The team has officially commenced pre-season training, readying themselves for the upcoming challenges.

In preparation for the Champions League, Young Africans will also compete in the inaugural Toyota Cup, a friendly match against South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs, scheduled for Sunday, July 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM East African Time. 

Additionally, the team is set to face arch-rivals Simba in one of the semi-final matches of the Community Shield tournament. The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has confirmed that the 2024 Community Shield tournament will take place from Thursday, August 8, 2024, to Sunday, August 11, at a venue yet to be announced.

While Young Africans prepare for their continental challenge, another Tanzanian representative, Azam FC, will also be embarking on their CAF Champions League campaign. 

Azam FC will start their journey against APR FC of Rwanda. Should they advance past this stage, they will face either Zanzibar’s JKU or Egypt’s FC Pyramids in the second round for a spot in the group stage. This path presents a formidable challenge for Azam FC, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.

According to the CAF system, the Champions League clubs are divided into three groups to organize the preliminary matches. There are five elite teams that bypass the preliminary stage: Al Ahly, Esperance, Mamelodi Sundowns, Petro de Luanda, and TP Mazembe. Four additional teams, recognized as the highest ranked based on CAF points, include Young Africans, FC Pyramids, Raja Casablanca, and CR Belouizdad.

This ranking system, combining the top five teams with the highest-ranked four, identifies the best teams in Africa according to CAF standards for premier club competitions. 

Despite their high ranking, Young Africans, along with the other top-ranked teams, must still navigate the preliminary stages to progress in the tournament, unlike the five teams that automatically advance.

Young Africans’ campaign in the CAF Champions League is not just about advancing through rounds but about making a significant impact on the continental stage. With strategic planning and robust fan support, the team aims to showcase Tanzanian football at its finest and make a deep run in one of Africa’s most prestigious football competitions.