Simba clears way for Yanga's championship by conceding 2-1 defeat

By Osoro Nyawangah, DAR ES SALAAM 

The Tanzania soccer defending champions, Yanga SC have won 2-1 against their compatriots, Simba SC in the NBC Tanzania Mainland Premier League game this evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

With the victory, Yanga reaches 58 points clear in the 22nd game and continues to lead the Premier League by seven points more than Azam FC which is following, having also played one more match, while Simba SC remains third with its 46 points from 21 matches.

It was a good day for footballers from West Africa, strikers Joseph Guédé Gnadou (29) and Freddy Michael Kouablan (25) both from the Ivory Coast and midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki (28) from Burkina Faso who scored goals in the match against the Tanzanian rivals.

Aziz Ki opened scoring table for Yanga in the 20th minute with a penalty kick given by Ahmed Arajiga from Manyara region after the Burkinabé was brought down in the box by the Simba's native defender Hussein Kazi who entered in the 11th minute to replace the injured Congolese defender, Henock Inonga Baka.

Guede sscored the second goal for Yanga in the 38th minute after outsmarting Simba's defenders following a long pass from Ugandan midfielder, Khalid Aucho and went on to challenge the Moroccan goalkeeper, Ayoub Lakred and then tripped the ball into the back of the net.

In the second half, Simba's coach, Abdelhak Benchika, changed his tactics and brought in  Mozambican international midfielder, Luis Jose Miquissone and Koublan to replace midfielders, Congolese Fabrice Ngoma and Saido Ntibanzokiza who entered the pitch to increase the attacking front.

It was different from the changes made by Yanga's Argentinian coach, Miguel Gamondi, who started by removing the Ivory Coast defender, Kouassi Yao and forward Clement Mzize; bringing in defender Bakari Mwamnyeto and Zambian forward Kennedy Musonda. The change did not have harmful impact to the opponents.

Koublan scored a tear-jerking goal in the 74th minute after receiving a good pass from Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama and outsmarting Yanga's defenders before beating the Malian goalkeeper Djigui Diarrab with a volleyed goal.

After that goal, Yanga increased their strength in defensive line while maintaining surprise attack, as Simba increased the speed of their attack to try to equalize the goal without success.

Yanga team comprised: Djigui Diarra, Kouassi Attohoula Yao/Bakari Mwamnyeto dk65, Joyce Lomalisa/Nickson Kibabage dk6, Ibrahim Hamad 'Bacca', Dickson Job, Maxi Mpia Nzengeli/Augustine Okrah dk85, Mudathir Yahya/Jonas Mkude dk85, Joseph Guede, Stephane Aziz Ki and Clement  Mzize/Kennedy Musonda 65 min.

Simba SC team comprised:  Ayoub Lakred, Israel Mwenda, Mohammed Hussein, Che Fondoh Malone Junior, Hennock Inonga/Hussein Kazi dk11, Babacar Sarr/Muzamil Yassin dk74, Sadio Kanoute, Fabrice Ngoma/Freddy Michael dk58, Kibu Dennis, Saido Ntibanzokiza/Luis Miqquissone dk58 and Clatous Chama  /Pa Omar Jobe dk74