NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 4 – Tanzanian giants Yanga beat Algeria’s USM Alger 1-0 at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers on Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough to hand them the CAF Confederation Cup title, as they lost on the away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Yanga needed to win the match by a margin of more than two goals to clinch their first ever crown on the Continent, but the 2-1 defeat they suffered at home proved to be detrimental as the Algerians clinched the crown.
Alger who were playing their second Continental final, won their first ever title, and they became the first ever Algerian club to do so.
Djuma Shabani had given Yanga the lead after just seven minutes from the penalty spot, but the rally to get a second goal ended in futility as the home side defended well.
Alger had a penalty miss in the second half when Yanga’s Malian keeper saved skipper Zineddine Belaid’s effort, but it did not come down to haunt them as Yanga couldn’t land a second goal.
Despite the defeat, Yanga reaped huge financial gains, as they were awarded USD1mn (Sh137.7mn) for reaching the final while winners Alger pocketed USD2mn (Sh275.3mn).
