YOUNG Africans have expressed confidence in their team's growth and development as 14 of their players have been selected for national duty ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

The Tanzania's Premier League defending champions have won the league title three times in a row and secured the Federation Cup three consecutive times. Last year, they reached the CAF Confederation Cup final but were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Seven players from Young Africans have been called up to represent the Tanzania national team (Taifa Stars): Mudathir Yahya, Aboutwalib Mshery, Dickson Job, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Bacca, Clement Mzize, and Nickson Kibabage. 

Additionally, other players have been summoned by their respective national teams: Khalid Aucho for Uganda (pictured), Prince Dube for Zimbabwe, Clatous Chama and Kennedy Musonda for Zambia, and Stephane Aziz Ki for Burkina Faso. 

Djigui Diarra will represent Mali, while Duke Abuya has been called up for Kenya's Harambee Stars.

Speaking about the ongoing international break, Young Africans' Media and Information Officer, Ali Kamwe, expressed pride in the club's achievement of having a record number of players on international duty. 

He highlighted this as a testament to the team's strength and the recognition of its talent across the continent.

“During the international break, we're continuing to train under coach Miguel Gamondi,” Kamwe said. “A key lesson from our previous match against CR Belouizdad was the negative impact of players reporting late to the training camp. 

“To avoid a repeat, we've extended our training camp. We'll be holding a closed-door friendly match to maintain our team's competitive edge. Once our players return from international duty, we'll have a fit and competitive squad ready to face Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in the CAF Champions League.”

Young Africans are maintaining rigorous training sessions for the players who remain at the club, aiming to improve fitness and foster competition within the squad ahead of their crucial CAF Champions League match against CBE. 

Despite the absence of key players due to national duties, the team remains focused on delivering strong performances.

From a coaching perspective, Gamondi faces the challenge of preparing his squad for the upcoming CAF Champions League match without several key players. He will need to devise a strategy to make up for these absences and ensure the team is ready for the competition.

Young Africans' match against CBE is scheduled for September 14 in Addis Ababa, with the return leg set for September 21 at the Azam Complex. Both matches are slated to kick off at 6 PM.

As Young Africans prepare for this crucial encounter, the club will rely on the depth and resilience of their remaining squad members to step up in the absence of their international players. 

The team's ability to adapt and maintain its competitive edge will be critical in their quest to advance in the CAF Champions League.