Marumo Gallants, a South African club hailing from Limpopo province, is set to face Tanzanian champions Young Africans in a challenging CAF Confederation semifinal clash.
The first leg of the match will take place in Dar es Salaam. Despite being an underdog in the pursuit of continental glory, Gallants managed to secure victory over the Egyptian club Pyramids FC, known for their significant financial investment. However, Young Africans will present an even tougher obstacle, as they are the favorites to reach their first-ever final in a CAF club competition. Recently, Young Africans moved closer to reclaiming the championship title in Tanzania’s NBC Premier League.
Although Young Africans are on the verge of clinching yet another league title, they now shift their focus to the Confederation Cup. However, they must remain fully aware of the challenge posed by Gallants. Head coach Nasreddine Nabi analyzed Gallants’ defeat to South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.
He noted that several key players were rested by coach Raymond Mdaka in order to stay fresh for the first leg against Young Africans. Nabi recognized that Gallants are unpredictable when playing away matches, emphasizing the importance of winning the first leg at home and avoiding conceding an away goal, which could prove costly in the second leg.
For Young Africans, their primary threat is Fiston Mayele, a prolific striker who has scored over twenty goals in all competitions this season. Mayele played a crucial role in Young Africans’ 2-0 quarterfinal aggregate victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United, netting both goals. He is supported by Stephane Aziz Ki, a member of the Burkina Faso national team, who excelled for Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in the previous season’s competition and has scored ten goals in all competitions this season.
Leading the defense for Young Africans are captain Bakari Mwamnyeto, a regular for the Tanzanian national team, alongside Dickson Job. Mayele’s compatriots, Djuma Djabani and Lomalisa Mutambala, occupy the full-back positions, while Yannick Bangala controls the midfield.
Gallants suffered a setback in their fight against relegation in South Africa’s top tier after their defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns over the weekend. It seems increasingly likely that the club will have to participate in a relegation playoff to retain their top division status next season. However, they are well-rested for the first leg against Young Africans, and they benefit from the knowledge of Tanzanian football possessed by former Simba SC coach Dylan Kerr, who is part of their technical team.
Kerr acknowledged that Young Africans have a well-balanced team, with multiple players capable of posing a threat to Gallants beyond star striker Mayele. Head coach Mdaka stated that his team is taking one match at a time, striving to ensure that their relegation battle does not impact their Confederation Cup campaign.
Gallants’ attackers Nku Lesiba and Letsile Koapeng, midfielder Celimpilo Ngema, as well as starting fullbacks Mpho Mvelase and Lebohang Mabotja, were all rested by Mdaka for the match against Sundowns. Ngema is expected to return to the lineup, forming a strong midfield alongside Lucky Mohomi. Koapeng and Lesiba bring additional danger to the attack, complementing the emerging star player, striker Ranga Chivaviro.
Chivaviro, 30 years old, has scored sixteen goals in all competitions this season and displays a high level of confidence, combining physicality with a sharp first touch in the penalty area. Goalkeeper Washington Arubi, a member of the Zimbabwe national team, holds a crucial role for Gallants
