Yanga SC ends Silver Strikers' CAF Champions League pursuit

Malawi clubs are finding it difficult to reach the CAF Champions League group stage following Silver Strikers 2-0 defeat to Yanga SC in Tanzania on Saturday.

Silver Strikers would have reached the CAF group stage with a victory or away draw at Yanga SC.

The last time a Malawi club reached the CAF group stage was in 2004, and it was FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. Since then, the Bullets have tried but failed to match their 2004 history.

Silver Strikers was knocked out on a 2-1 aggregate. They won the first-leg match 1-0 only to give away their lead at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Yanga found their first goal with just 7 minutes of the opening half through Dickson Job before Ivorian striker Pacome Zouzoua doubled their lead.

“We have a good team” – Mwafuirwa.

Silver Strikers coach Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa said it is disappointing that they failed to score when they had their chances.

“We started well; we conceded goals, which I think we could have avoided. We came here not to defend, but it happened that we lost, but all in all it has shown that we have a good team and good quality. If we sit down with the players, I know next year we can be in the same competition, but we have a good team,” he said.

Silver Strikers versus Yanga SC | image credit – Silver Strikers media.

Yanga SC interim coach Patrick Mabedi was happy to have won his first match in charge after the firing of their head coach on Saturday last week.

“In the first half we controlled the game, but in the second half we dropped our level, maybe due to player fatigue. But I am happy that my boys took all the chances we had and are adapting well to our philosophy,” he said.