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The Dar es Salaam-based side have first leg advantage heading into the decisive match against the North Africans
Tanzanian giants Yanga have home advantage in the CAF Confederation Cup final after extending their historic run following a 4-1 win on aggregate against South African side Marumo Gallants in the semi-final.
Yanga secured a 2-1 win in South Africa on Wednesday to make it into the final and will take on Algerian side USM Alger, who beat ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast 2-0 in Algiers, to qualify by the same scoreline after a goalless first leg.
It means the Tanzanian side can employ the same approach as witnessed in the semi-final when they won at home and required just a draw away. Yanga host the first leg on May 28 before heading to Algiers on June 3 for the return leg of the two-leg final and coach Nasreddine Nabbi is confident that his side can secure the title.
“I am very happy to take this team to the final. We are the first Tanzanian team to do so and it is a huge achievement for us. Now, we will try to win this Cup,” Nabi said, as quoted by CAF Media.
Nabbi also gave an insight into how they nullified Gallants, an approach that could be witnessed in the final against USM Alger.
“We understood that Marumo has a very good team and we didn’t want to give them too much space. We made a good tactical plan for the game and we also wanted to ensure we didn’t concede in the first 25-30 minutes,” he added.
The Dar es Salaam giants are eyeing history by becoming the first Tanzanian side to win a continental title and have enjoyed a good run after falling down into the second-tier competition, following their elimination from the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Yanga have not lost at home in the competition, recording four wins and two draws in Dar es Salaam, while their away record is also impressive as they have managed four wins, a draw and one loss, conceding five goals on the road.
Wananchi, as they are popularly known, also have Tunisian Nabbi to count on given the former Ismaily coach understands North African teams, an experience that will come in handy in the final.
USM, meanwhile, are also eyeing history given no Algerian side has ever won the Confederation Cup and with $1.2 million (Sh165 million) at stake, the final promises to produce fireworks.
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