Manqoba Mngqithi’s Young Africans took a commanding grip on their CAF Champions League second-round preliminary tie on Saturday, thrashing Madagascar’s CFFA 4-0 in the first leg.
The result is a big boost for the South African coach, who took charge of the Tanzanian champions in July after leaving Golden Arrows.
Mngqithi said that a return to the Champions League was a major reason he made the move. He knows the competition well, having been part of the Mamelodi Sundowns side that won the title in 2016 and later coached Masandawana as head coach.
Saturday’s result showed his team is already well drilled for the demands of continental football.
The breakthrough came late in the first half, when Cheikh Touré scored in the 39th minute to put Yanga 1-0 up at the break.
It was a patient first 45 minutes from a side that had to work for its opening goal. After the restart, the match was effectively decided within 12 minutes.
Albert Kangwanda doubled the lead in the 47th minute, Mudathir Yahya made it 3-0 in the 54th, and Maxi Nzengeli completed the scoring in the 59th.
CFFA had no answer to the burst of goals, and Mngqithi’s side were able to manage the rest of the game from a position of total control.
With a four-goal cushion, Yanga are firmly in the driving seat ahead of the return leg.
Mngqithi will want his players to stay focused and finish the job professionally, and South African football followers will be watching to see how far he can take the Tanzanian giants in Africa’s premier club competition.