East African big wings APR of Rwanda and Young Africans of Tanzania both have realistic chances of reaching the penultimate group stage. The two clubs clash in the first round of the CAF champions League with the winner of the aggregate tinkering only a win to grace the last eight.

The lower however will seek solace in a play off for a group in  the Confederation cup, the continental second tier club Championship. 

Both APR and Yanga are considered East African giants  and a clash between the two clubs is of high magnitude. 

From the CECAFA region dominated by AL Merreikh and AL Hilal both of whom reached the last eight of the 2015 edition only Simba and Yanga have reached the group stage of the Champions League which was formed in 1998 replacing African cup of Champions.

Yanga reached the group stage in 1998 and the quarter finals in 1969/70.APR  on the other hand  reached the semi final of the 2003 CAF Cup winners cup. 

APR are three time CECAFA champions while Yanga are four times the same Championships. 

In the 2015 edition APR participated in the same tournament while Yanga participated in the lesser Confederation cup. APR  beat Liga Muculmana of Mozambique 2-1 and drew 0-0 away only to lose 4-0 on aggregate at the hands of AL Ahly.

Last season Azam of Tanzania, Gor Mahia of Kenya, St Georges of Ethiopia, LLB Academic of Burundi also failed to progress to the second round leaving only perennial contenders AL Merreikh and AL Hilal storming to the second round. 

Azam lost to CECAFA member AL Merreikh 3-2 on aggregate despite winning the home tie 2-0 in Dar es salaam, LLB Academic of Burundi lost to Angolan money bags Kabuscorp  while Saint Georges of Ethiopia lost to another hopeful MC Eulma of Algeria on away goal. Gor Mahia of Kenya lost to AC leopards despite cruising past CNaPs  of Madagascar. 

Yanga will clash with APR with the aggregate winner meeting the winner between AL Ahly vs Receativo do Libolo. 

The other CECAFA  members will  see AL Ahly Tripoli taking on AL Hilal Omdurman with another giant AL Merreikh facing Nigerian side Warri  Wolves. st. georges will have to ease through TP Mazembe. 

Meanwhile Ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League first round, first
leg clash against Yanga, APR new head coach Nizar Khanfir has
set his main target, which is to win the home game, and
convincingly.
The 59-year-old, who took the players through their paces in
his second training session at FERWAFA ground on Tuesday,
said, “We have watched some of the opponents’ games on
video and we are still analysing them for further information
before we face them over the weekend.”
“It will be a tough game, especially for me as a new coach but
APR is a good side, they play good football except that that is
not the style of football that I want to play,” he stated.

Additional report by news times rwanda

Austin Oduor

talking African football