YOUNG Africans kick off their CAF Champions League Group Stage campaign thie afternoon as they welcome Sudanese giants Al Hilal to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

All eyes will be on Sead Ramovic (pictured), who takes charge of his first match as the head coach of Young Africans, making this an intriguing matchup on both a personal and professional level for the Serbian.

This match against Al Hilal represents more than just a fixture; it’s the first step towards ending a painful period of back-to-back defeats suffered in the NBC Premier League prior to the international break.

Kicking off their continental campaign at home, Young Africans find themselves in a position where a victory is crucial. Securing three points not only bolsters their confidence but also injects some much-needed optimism among the supporters.

As the team faces a challenging group stage, the importance of starting strong - particularly on home soil - cannot be overstated.

This fixture brings back memories of Young Africans’ loss to Al Hilal, where Florent Ibenge triumphed over Nasreddine Nabi in the preliminary two seasons ago.

Since then, Young Africans have continued their upward trajectory, reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2023 and Champions League quarter-final early this year.

Yet, Ramovic knows his side will face a stern challenge against an Al Hilal squad that has remained one of the most consistent forces in African football.

“I think we will play against a very strong team. I am sure the game will be intense, proactive and will require a lot of mental and tactical readiness. But I know as a team we have the ability to control the ball and the game and this is our approach. We are ready for a tough battle,” he said.

On his part, Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge, who is known for his tactical approach, said his side is relishing the big game against Young Africans.

“We are going to face a very big opponent. We play away and the stadium will be full. We are happy for that because we are competitors and when you are a competitor you want to play against big teams. 

“So, it is an opportunity to play that kind of a big team, big game and we expect we are going to enjoy it,” said Ibenge.