Tanzanian side Young Africans took a step towards the Confederation Cup final by beating South Africans Marumo Gallants 2-0 on Wednesday in the semi-final first leg. In the second game, Asec Mimosas was held in check by USM Alger.
In a meeting between teams playing their first-ever African Cup semi-final, Young Africans handled the pressure better. On the heels of their convincing quarter-final, the players of the Dar es Salaam-based club pulled off a great coup by winning 2-0 against their South African opponents. Yanga’s Burkinabè, Aziz Ki, was the right guide by opening the scoring after suffering with his team from the opposing resistance. The Polokwane team had to give in after the hour mark (64th) on a goal from the Burkinabè international served by the Congolese Kisinda.
It’s another player from the DRC who will add to the bill and give his teammates some room before the return match: Fiston Mayele. The top scorer of the Confederation Cup thus achieved a sixth achievement in stoppage time (92nd).
The second semi-final of the day was closer between the Ivorians of Asec and the Algerians of USM. The Abidjanais never knew how to find the opening in front of a team from Usma who had nevertheless conceded three goals during their quarter-final against Far de Rabat (4-3). The Mimosas players thought they had achieved their goal when the young striker Karamoko Sankara scored in the 28th minute, but his goal was finally canceled for an offside position. Everything therefore remains to be done for the men of Julien Chevalier.
The return matches will take place in a week, on May 17.
SEMI-FINALS (go: May 10; return: May 17)
ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) – USM Alger (Algeria) 0-0
Young Africans (Tanzania) – Marumo Gallants (South Africa) 2-0
Confederation Cup: schedule and results for the 2022-2023 edition