Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Tanzanian giants Young Africans dealt a blow to Medeama's TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign with a resounding 3-0 home victory on Wednesday.
The result revitalized Young Africans' hopes in the competition while leaving Medeama with a challenging path ahead.
The hosts seized control of the match with Pacome Zouzoua breaking the deadlock after 31 minutes. Second-half strikes from Bakari Mwamnyeto and Mudathiri Yahya secured the emphatic victory for Young Africans.
Speaking about the pivotal win, Young Africans' coach lauded his team's performance, stating, “This victory puts us in a good position in the group. The players executed the game plan excellently, and it reflects our determination to progress in the CAF Champions League.”
The outcome places Young Africans in second position in Group D, trailing leaders Al Ahly by goal difference as they head into the crucial final two rounds of group-stage matches.
In contrast, it was a night to forget for Medeama, who not only suffered a heavy defeat but also saw Jonathan Sowah sent off late in the game after receiving his second yellow card. The red card compounds Medeama's challenges, leaving them at the bottom of the group with four points.
Medeama now faces an uphill battle to secure progression to the knockout stage, with tough clashes against group leaders Al Ahly and Young Africans on the horizon.
Commenting on the upcoming challenges, Medeama's coach expressed determination, saying, “We have a tough road ahead, but we are resilient. Our focus is now on regrouping and preparing for the remaining matches. We believe in our abilities to turn things around.”
With Al Ahly set to face pivotal encounters against both Medeama and Young Africans, the Tanzanian side eyes an opportunity to capitalize on these matchups and strengthen their position in the group standings.