Young Africans SC reached the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League group stage after beating CFFA 4-1 at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es-Salaam on Wednesday for an 8-1 aggregate win. They became the first team to qualify for the group stage.
Match and qualification
Both teams had agreed to play the return leg in Tanzania. Young Africans SC went through after a 4-0 victory in the first leg and a 4-1 win in the second leg.
Ibrahim Kazimoto scored the opener in the 27th minute. Selemani Mwalimu scored a second-half brace, and Juma Issa Abushiri made it 4-1 in the 82nd minute.
Fourth straight group-stage place
Young Africans reached the group stage for the fourth time in a row. They also became the first Tanzanian club to reach the group phase in four consecutive seasons: 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025/26, and 2026/27.
Simba win in Dar es Salaam
In another CAF Champions League match played in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, Simba SC beat 15 de Agosto 6-1 in the delayed first leg of the second preliminary round. Ibrahim Doumbia scored a brace, while Nathaniel Chilambo, Elie Mpanzu, Keletso Makgalwa and Anicet Alain Oura also scored.
The return leg between Simba SC and 15 de Agosto is slated for Sunday, October 25, away in Equatorial Guinea. Speaking after the game, Simba coach Steve Barker said: "We scored very nice goals, obviously I think it is a good result, and a good scoreline, and Sunday we go again. We just want to keep our consistency, keep our level, never become complacent."
He added: "We have to keep striving and be better in every game but it was a nice scoreline and a nice win for us."
Azam prepare for ZED FC return leg
Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge challenged his players to stay focused as they prepare for the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup fixture against Egypt’s ZED FC on October 24. Azam FC fought back at Cairo International Stadium on Friday, leaving the two teams level ahead of the return fixture scheduled at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.