Young Africans completed a great weekend for Tanzanian clubs in Africa with a shock 2-0 away win over Rivers United of Nigeria in a Caf Confederation Cup quarterfinal first leg.
Kalala Mayele from the Democratic Republic of Congo scored twice during the closing stages in Uyo for the Dar es Salaam outfit popularly known as Yanga.
The 28-year-old raced onto a pass and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Victor Sochima to put the east African side ahead after 74 minutes.
Mayele struck again seven minutes later, tapping the ball into the net at the far post after being set up by captain Bakari Mwamnyeto.
On Saturday, Simba, the great domestic rivals of Young Africans, beat title-holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 1-0 in the first leg of a Caf Champions League quarterfinal.
No Tanzanian club has won a Caf competition, with Simba coming closest by reaching the 1993 final of the now defunct Caf Cup, which they lost to Stella Abidjan of the Ivory Coast.
Rivers will have to achieve a first in the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League if they are to survive after the second leg next Sunday.
Since quarterfinals were introduced to the Confederation Cup in 2017, six clubs lost first legs at home and all were eliminated on aggregate following the return matches.
PYRAMIDS SNATCH DRAW
Marumo Gallants of South Africa were another club to exceed expectations as they held 2020 Confederation Cup runners-up Pyramids of Egypt to a 1-1 draw in Cairo.
The visitors were just a couple of minutes away from a shock victory when substitute Sibusiso Kumalo raised his hand to block a cross and Ramadan Sobhy converted the penalty.
Marumo had gone ahead on 55 minutes when unmarked Ranga Chivaviro headed powerfully past goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy after a corner.
It was the sixth goal of the African campaign for the South African, giving him a share of first place in the Confederation Cup Golden Boot race with Fakhreddine Ben Youssef of Pyramids.
With a 100 per cent home record from five Caf matches this season, Gallants will be hopeful of beating Pyramids in South Africa and setting up a semifinal against Yanga or Rivers.
Title favourites FAR Rabat of Morocco, the only previous winners of the competition among the eight contenders, are in trouble after a 2-0 loss to USM Alger in Algiers.
Saadi Radouani scored his first goal of the campaign one minute before halftime for USM, who have reached the quarterfinals for the second time in four attempts.
A second goal, from Zineddine Belaid on 62 minutes, has raised the possibility of overall success and a last-four clash with US Monastir of Tunisia or ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast.
Defeat for FAR completed a dismal two days for Morocco as Wydad and Casablanca neighbours Raja both lost in the Champions League.
Monastir could manage only one goal attempt on target when held 0-0 at home by former African champions ASEC in Rades.