Tanzania’s Young Africans have become the first club to qualify for the 2026/27 TotalEnergies Caf Champions League group stages after overcoming CFFA of Madagascar 4-1 at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
Having won the first leg clash 4-0, hosted at the same venue on Saturday, the Tanzanian giants qualify 8-1 on aggregate.
Selemani Mwalimu scored a brace in addition to strikes from Ibrahim Kazimoto and Juma Issa Abushiri.
Kazimoto put Yanga in the lead in the 42nd minute and four minutes after halftime, Mwalimu doubled Yanga’s lead, and he added his brace and Yanga’s third after 53 minutes.
The visitors CFFA pulled one back after 75 minutes, but it was a mountain to climb for the Malagasy champions already.
Juma Issa Abushiri made it 4-1 for Young Africans after 82 minutes as their supporters started celebrating their qualification to the group stage for the fourth time in a row.
Young Africans will now comfortably wait for 15 more clubs to join them in the prestigious group phase, scheduled to kick off next November.
Rivals Simba on the brink
Yanga’s rivals Simba are also on the brink of joining compatriots following their 6-1 win over Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto in the first leg hosted in Dar es Salaam.
Ibrahim Doumbia scored twice, while Nathaniel Chilambo, Elie Mpanzu, Keletso Makgalwa and Anicet Oura were also on target as Simba established a commanding five-goal advantage ahead of the return leg.
