Despite his apparent poor record, Coach Hans Van der Pluijm was handed the Yanga job based on his good record against Egyptian teams in the CAF Champions League. As awkward as it sounds, that's what Yanga needed. A coach with confidence to take on the Egyptian giants.
Yanga needed a coach who would make them dream the impossible. The last time Yanga played Ahly, the then coach, Dusan Kondic had no guts to dream. He publicly trembled and admitted Yanga dare not to dream against Ahly.
But Hans Van de Pluijm record against Egyptian clubs has kept Yanga dreaming the impossible even after the first leg. He has now lost only once in five encounters with Egyptian teams. In 2009, the return leg was a mere formality after Ahly had unassailable 3-0 first leg victory in Cairo.
This time, Yanga will take on Ahly in the return leg with hopes of making it through despite carrying a slim advantage that can be quickly erased by the defending Champions in Cairo. But again, they don't have to win or overcome a deficit to dump out Ahly.
The 1-0 scoreline completely failed to capture the match proceedings for both clubs. Yanga dominated both halves. At the end , they had forced Ahly to concede 12 corners. All but one were fruitless.
There were long periods where Yanga looked so superior to Ahly that one could be forgiven for thinking perhaps there is a curse that would always deny Yanga victory against Egyptian teams. This was their thirteenth encounter with Egyptian sides and chances of victory seemed to be evaporating with every miss.
Ahly goalkeeper, Ekramy, was their busiest player while Deogratius Munishi was hardly forced into action. The Ahly strike force was subdued with only Mousa Yedan threatening.
Given his impressive movements on the edge of the box, the technical bench has to figure out a way of stopping Mousa Yedan on Sunday. His dribbling and penetration could trouble the defence.
In the midfield, Frank Domayo would be required to not only repeat but even better his first leg performance. In Dar, he was excellent, tirelessly running, passing and tackling. He also forced the Al Ahly goalkeeper into action several times with his long-range powerful shots.
Niyonzima who struggled a bit to influence the first tie would have to up his game today. He was bundled off the ball a couple of times and perhaps he has learnt that Al Ahly won't allow him more seconds to massage the ball.
On Saturday, the defence stood firm though they should expect a sterner test today. Oscar Joshua selected ahead of David Luhende in the full-back position, didn't offer much in an attacking sense, but he was very solid defensively. He made a number of important timely tackles and interceptions to keep Gedo and co. at bay.
Nadir Haroub, who not only admirably took his only chance to score the all-important goal on Saturday, his uncharacteristic composure displayed in the first leg would be highly needed in today's battle.
Worryingly, Ahly pushed Yanga on to the back foot in the last five minutes and could have bagged a heartbreaking equalizer with more time. In the space of less than seven minutes they showed a glimpse of what they can do. That was just a glimpse of their strike force that nearly cracked Yanga. Today their strike force is likely to be in full swing throughout the game.
Though it's always the hope that kills you, Yanga will certainly walk into the pitch hoping and knowing they are just 90 minutes from following into the steps of their arch-rivals, Simba who knocked out Zamalek eleven years ago. They can draw inspiration from the Simba versus Zamalek uncanny parallels.
In 2003, Zamalek were the defending champions, Al Ahly are this year defending champions. Simba won 1-0 in the first leg in Dar, Yanga have done the same. The Simba-Zamalek return match was played on Sunday, coincidentally, the Yanga versus Ahly return leg match is on Sunday. Stretching the parallels, Yanga have set camp in the same hotel that Simba used in 2003 on their way to dethrone Zamalek.
The tie is still a 50/50 affair in spite of Yanga slim victory. The return leg may turn into an Arabian nightmare but for Yanga fans the slim victory was worth every celebration. They had waited for it for too long.
Will history follow its due course to complete the uncanny parallels? As one Yanga diehard fan said, with Okwi, Ngassa, Kiiza a brother can dare to dream. The impossible dream is well alive in spite of the slim victory.
More analysis on the game
http://www.sokatanzania.com/al-ahly-v-yanga-yanga-impossible-dream-still-alive/
