WITH just a day remaining before Tanzania’s football giants, Young Africans SC (Yanga) and Simba SC, clash in the Mainland Premier League, historical records favour the league title holders over their Msimbazi Street-based rivals.

The much-anticipated encounter is set to take place tomorrow at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

This match will mark the 114th league meeting between the two sides since 1965, with Young Africans boasting a superior goal-scoring record across both halves of their matches this season, unlike Simba. The defending champions have consistently found the back of the net in nearly every match, highlighting their attacking prowess.

Young Africans, under head coach Hamdi Miloud, currently lead the league table with 58 points from 22 matches, having won 19, drawn one, and lost two. Their offensive strength is evident, with the team netting 58 goals so far, making them the top-scoring side in the league. 

Notably, Young Africans have shown an almost equal attacking threat in both halves, scoring 30 goals in the first half and 28 in the second.

Among these goals, two were own goals from their opponents. One of them came during their last meeting with Simba on October 19, 2024, when Simba’s right-back Kelvin Kijili accidentally turned the ball into his own net in the 86th minute, handing Young Africans a 1-0 victory. 

The other own goal was conceded by Fountain Gate FC’s central defender Jackson Shija in the 53rd minute during Young Africans’ dominant 5-0 win on December 29, 2024.

Simba, under head coach Fadlu Davids, currently second on the table with 54 points, have played 21 matches, winning 17, drawing three, and losing one. They have found the back of the net 46 times, 12 goals fewer than Young Africans. Their goal distribution has seen 26 goals scored in the first half and 20 in the second, indicating a slightly weaker attacking output compared to their rivals.

This derby is expected to be a key moment in the title race, given the narrow four-point gap between the two teams. Young Africans hold an advantage, having won the reverse fixture 1-0 in October, courtesy of Kijili’s own goal.

However, Simba will be seeking redemption, having suffered three consecutive league defeats to Young Africans. Their losing streak began with a 5-1 thrashing on November 5, 2023, followed by a 2-1 loss on April 20, 2024, and the latest 1-0 defeat in October 2024.

For Simba, this fixture carries added significance as they look to break their losing run against Young Africans. Their last victory in this league rivalry came on April 16, 2023, when they secured a 2-0 win, with goals from former defender Henock Inonga and midfielder Kibu Denis.

With both teams in strong form and the league title race heating up, this highly anticipated derby promises another thrilling chapter in Tanzania’s biggest football rivalry.