DEFENDING champions Young Africans SC (Yanga) continued their push for the Mainland Premier League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Namungo FC at Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa on Sunday.

A 26th-minute penalty converted by new signing Laurindo Dilson Maria Aurélio, popularly known as ‘Depu’, proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter. The spot-kick was awarded after winger Maxi Nzengeli was fouled inside the box following sustained attacking pressure from the visitors. 

Depu stepped up confidently and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to hand Young Africans three valuable away points.

The win lifts the reigning champions to second place in the league standings as they intensify their pursuit of a fifth consecutive title, underlining their resilience on a ground where the hosts have often been formidable.

Speaking after the match, Young Africans head coach Pedro Goncalves (pictured) praised his players’ mentality, tactical discipline and ability to manage the game under pressure.

“First of all, I want to say a big thank you to the supporters,” Gonçalves said. “It was amazing. I don’t know where they came from, but they pushed us a lot. In the dressing room, we said we needed to conquer those three points for these people. In the end, this win is for them.”

The Portuguese tactician described the travelling Young Africans faithful as the team’s “12th player,” emphasizing the motivational boost they provided during a challenging away fixture.

“They were really the 12th player. That energy helped us a lot, especially in difficult moments,” he added.

From a tactical standpoint, Gonçalves felt his side controlled large spells of the contest, particularly in the opening exchanges.

“I think we managed the match very well. We started strongly, pressing high and arriving in the opponent’s area. Maybe we didn’t finish as much as we wanted early on, but we were often around their box and creating pressure,” he explained.

Despite dominating possession and creating several promising situations, Young Africans were unable to extend their advantage. In the second half, attacking midfielder Allan Okello had one of the clearest opportunities to double the lead but failed to convert, meaning he continues to wait for his first league goal since joining the club.

Gonçalves admitted that inefficiency in front of goal remains an area requiring improvement.

“We need to be more efficient,” he stressed. “When you miss one, two, three, four chances against a team that is compact, solid and intense, especially at home, it becomes dangerous. If you don’t score the second goal, the match is always open and the opponent continues to believe.”

Namungo, buoyed by their home support, remained compact and disciplined throughout, showing resilience as the match wore on with the scoreline still narrow. However, Young Africans’ defensive organization stood firm, restricting the hosts largely to long-range attempts.

“We only conceded one real chance, a shot from outside the box,” Gonçalves pointed out. “That shows good organization and focus.”

The victory marks another important step for Young Africans as they navigate a demanding fixture schedule. After returning to Dar es Salaam, the champions quickly shifted focus to their next assignment against JKT Tanzania at the KMC Complex tomorrow, one of several rescheduled fixtures contributing to a congested calendar.

“The schedule is not easy for us,” Gonçalves admitted. “But we must compete in every match and continue fighting for positive results.”

Following the clash against JKT Tanzania, attention will turn to the highly anticipated Dar es Salaam Derby against arch-rivals Simba SC, scheduled for March 1 at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

While the derby is expected to capture national attention, Gonçalves insists his immediate focus remains on maintaining momentum.

For Young Africans, the narrow victory over Namungo may not have been spectacular, but it demonstrated resilience, discipline and the mentality required of champions. As their coach emphasized, sometimes it is not about the margin of victory but about “conquering” the three points - especially away from home.