THE Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) is expected to release an important statement at any moment regarding the much-anticipated Mainland Premier League match No. 184 between Young Africans SC (Yanga) and Simba SC.

As the nation waits, Young Africans fans, popularly known as “Wananchi”, remain calm but firm in support of their club’s unwavering position.

The controversy surrounding the fixture, initially scheduled for tomorrow, continues to escalate after Young Africans issued a bold ultimatum: they will not agree to a new date for the match unless key resignations and structural changes take place within Tanzania’s football leadership.

Young Africans insist that before agreeing to play the rescheduled clash, both the chief executive officer of the TPLB and the secretary general of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) must resign. 

Furthermore, the club has called for the complete dissolution of the 72 Hour Committee - a decision-making unit responsible for match verdicts and administrative decisions within the league structure.

Despite mounting pressure, Young Africans have not shifted their stance, intensifying speculation about the future of the league’s top fixture. 

The clash between Young Africans and Simba is widely regarded as the biggest football rivalry in East and Central Africa and draws massive attention both locally and internationally.

TPLB media officer Karim Boimanda confirmed that a decisive update is imminent.

“At any time, the board will issue an important and sensitive statement that will bring clarity to the entire process surrounding the preparations for this match,” Boimanda (pictured) said.

Young Africans’ leadership has outlined further actions should their demands go unmet. In a rare and dramatic move, the club announced that it will not take part in the rescheduled derby on any future date, not just June 15, unless their conditions are fully addressed.

In addition, Young Africans have declared that they will boycott their next two Premier League matches against Tanzania Prisons and Dodoma Jiji, citing a total loss of confidence in the Premier League board.

The stakes are even higher. Young Africans warned that if there are no immediate changes within the football administration, the club will consider withdrawing from the Mainland Premier League entirely for the 2025/26 season.

“Without serious structural reforms, including leadership changes at the TPLB and TFF, we see no reason to continue participating in a competition whose integrity we no longer trust,” a senior Young Africans official was quoted as saying.

The crisis deepens when factoring in the unresolved matter of Young Africans’ prize money for winning the Federation Cup. The club claims it has not been paid the championship funds for the previous season and has refused to play this season’s final unless the payment is made in full.

Young Africans have been scheduled to face Singida Black Stars in the Federation Cup final on June 28, 2025, at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar. However, unless the club receives the money it is owed, the final will not take place.

“The prize money for winning the Federation Cup is our right. It’s non-negotiable. We cannot prepare or commit to a final without receiving what we’re owed,” said another source within the club.

The ongoing standoff between Young Africans and TFF has reached a boiling point, placing Tanzanian football at a crossroads. Analysts warn that unless resolved swiftly and fairly, the situation could result in one of the most significant crises in the country’s football history.

Supporters of the club have expressed overwhelming backing for their management’s firm stand, while some sections of the football community have urged TFF and TPLB to listen carefully to Young Africans’ concerns and respond in a professional manner.

The TPLB’s impending announcement is expected to either de-escalate or further inflame tensions, with the future of multiple league fixtures and competitions hanging in the balance.