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The Tanzanian giants will have to go past the unpredictable South African side to make further history as Ivorian big boys ASEC seek a first continental final since 1998
Tanzanian giants Yanga have a potential banana skin in the CAF Confederation Cup after landing South African strugglers Marumo Gallants in the semi-final.
Yanga eliminated Nigeria’s Rivers United 2-0 on aggregate following a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam on Sunday after triumphing away to make history as the first Tanzanian side to reach the last four of the competition and can write further chapters if they go past Gallants and make it to the final.
Yanga vs Marumo Gallants
The Tanzanian champions, however, face an opposition that is hard to prepare for given Gallants are struggling at home but have been tough on the continent and pulled off a shock by eliminating expensively-assembled Egyptian side Pyramids in the last eight.
Gallants are just two points above the relegation zone in the domestic league with three rounds remaining, having won only five of 27 matches, but won 2-1 on aggregate after Celimpilo Ngema scored on 39 minutes to give them a 1-0 home win on Sunday, having forced a 1-1 draw in Egypt in the first leg.
A team composed almost entirely of rejects from other top-flight clubs, Gallants have excelled in the second-tier African competition, winning eight and drawing one of 12 matches this season, and Yanga have their work cut out when they host the first leg on May 14.
ASEC Mimosas vs USM Alger
The other semi-final will see Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas host USM Alger of Algeria, both teams coming into the match on the back of contrasting results in the last eight.
Former African champions ASEC Mimosas scored in added time at the end of each half to defeat US Monastir of Tunisia 2-0 and qualify on aggregate by the same scoreline.
Franck ZouZou broke the deadlock in Bouake with his first goal of the African campaign and Pacome Zouzoua sealed success with his third in the Confederation Cup this season.
FAR Rabat, considered the strongest title contenders after an impressive run to the knockout stage, bowed out despite beating USM Alger of Algeria 3-2 in the Moroccan capital.
USM advanced 4-3 on aggregate to a last-four showdown with ASEC after building a two-goal first-leg advantage over the 2005 Confederation Cup winners.
The match, which Mimosas will host the first leg, brings together the 1998 Champions League winners (ASEC) and 2015 runners-up USM Alger, meaning both teams have experience at this level.
CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals pairings:
Young Africans (TAN) vs Marumo Gallants (RSA)
ASEC Mimosas (CIV) vs USM Alger (ALG)
First legs: May 14; second legs: May 21
Aggregate winners qualify for two-leg final
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