The Wekundu wa Msimbazi official does not think the Tanzanian champions deserve any plaudits for their continental campaign that ended in heartbreak on Saturday
Simba spokesman Ahmed Ally is among those not buying into the nation that Yanga gave a good account of themselves in the CAF Confederation Cup final which they lost to Algeria’s USM Alger on Saturday.
Yanga recorded a 1-0 win away in Algiers on Saturday to tie the two-legged final 2-2, having lost 2-1 in Dar es Salaam last weekend, but lost courtesy of the away goal rule to end up heartbroken as they missed a chance to become the first Tanzanian club to win a continental title.
It was a gallant fight for the Tanzania champions who had been formidable on their run to the final, earning them plaudits from observers in the region and on the continent.
However, as expected, their arch-rivals Simba were among those who reveled in the loss with Ally sustaining an online attack on Wananchi as not deserving any praise since they went down to a side struggling in the Algerian top flight.
“USM are in trouble, they are struggling. They are on life support; they can even get relegated. This is a very easy opponent, it is shameful not to be able to beat such a team,” Ally said via a Twitter post. “You fail to win against such an opponent and you are happy to wrap the loser’s medal around your neck.”
USM currently sit 10th in the 16-team Algerian league on 32 points from 21 games, having gone through a difficult season domestically, but they have three games in hand over their rivals, owing to their involvement in the continental competition.
Given their league position and the fact that it was their first continental title, Ally feels Yanga let Tanzanians down as they should have easily completed the job.
“Have they really tried? Losing to a team sitting 10th is trying? To lose to a team featuring in continental competitions for the first time is not trying. All they got is heartbreak, they just met an opponent that is on their level,” he added.
Ally’s sentiments have already created an online debate on whether Yanga had a good run or not with fans divided over the club’s Confederation Cup campaign.
Simba and Yanga do not see eye-to-eye and Ally’s reaction was expected especially after Wananchi organised a comedy event, specifically to laugh at Wekundu wa Msimbazi, following their elimination from the CAF Champions League at the quarter-final stage by holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco who are set to face Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the final on Sunday night.