Yanga Sports Club of Tanzania started their CAF Champions League journey with a 1-0 loss to Nigeria’s Rivers United FC in a preliminary round first-leg clash on Sunday evening.
The match was delayed for ten minutes after Tanzania authorities held Rivers United’s Covid-19 test results with Nigeria Embassy officials saving the situation and the match finally got underway at 14h20 GMT.
Yanga started strongly and had much of the ball in the midfield. Feisal Salum released Sogne Yacouba on the wing, the forward delivered a searching cross to Makambo but the Congolese attacker headed the ball out.
Victor Sochima came close to giving Rivers the lead in the 20th minute but his glancing header was tipped away by Diarra Djigui.
Dickson Job came to the home sides rescue after 37 minutes, as he kept out Moses Omodumuke ‘s effort from outside the area.
Yanga fashioned their first clear-cut opening two minutes later when Mauya’s corner found Yacounba, who headed over the crossbar.
Rivers’ Auwalu Ali came into this clash in some good form, but he squandered a chance to break the deadlock just before the break when he fired wide-right of the post.
The visitors were piling pressure on Yanga, Nelson Esar was released through on goal but took a shot from a distance and goalkeeper Djigui collected with ease.
Yanga came close to opening the scoring in the 47th minute, Faisal Salum delivered a freekick inside the box, Yacouba rose high but his header went wide.
Rivers United continued to push for a goal and they were rewarded on 51st minute thanks to a beautiful nod from Moses Omodumeke.
Esar had the opportunity to hand Rivers the second goal after 79 minutes, as he forced Djigui into a save, before firing wide of the mark a minute later.
Yanga pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages of the game, however they could not bypass a water-tight Rivers defence.
