Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya featured as Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga) secured passage to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Botswana champions Gaborone United on Saturday.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAbuya was once again trusted in Yanga’s midfield as the Tanzanian champions completed a 3-2 aggregate victory following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Botswana.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952581##Playing at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Yanga made a blistering start and took the lead after just seven minutes through Namibian striker Peter Shalulile.Selemani Mwalimu supplied the assist, setting up Shalulile to give the hosts an early advantage and put Yanga 2-1 ahead on aggregate.Gaborone United responded strongly and spent much of the match searching for an equalizer that would have taken the tie towards a penalty shootout.Yanga, however, remained disciplined as they held on to their narrow advantage.Rising Stars coach reveals secret to avoiding youth squad chaosThe Tanzanian champions eventually gave themselves breathing room six minutes from time when Cheikh Ibrahima Touré doubled their lead in the 84th minute.Gaborone United responded almost immediately, with Lebogang Ditsele reducing the deficit three minutes later to set up a tense finish.The Botswana side pushed for another goal in the closing stages, but Yanga held firm to complete a 2-1 victory and progress 3-2 on aggregate.Yanga will now face Madagascar’s CFFA in the second preliminary round. CFFA advanced after eliminating Lesotho’s Lijabatho 3-1 on aggregate, setting up another two-legged test for the Tanzanian champions.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952630##Maina off the mark in GermanyIn Germany, Harambee Stars winger Linton Maina opened his Bundesliga account for the new campaign as FC Köln were held to a 1-1 draw by Werder Bremen at RheinEnergieStadion.Maina started the contest and played 65 minutes, making a telling contribution by putting Köln ahead in the 11th minute.The Kenyan international finished clinically from inside the box, firing a right-footed effort across goalkeeper Karl Hein and into the far corner after being picked out by Ellyes Skhiri.FKF official issues remedy to current federation impasseMaina’s goal came shortly after Köln had seen Thijs Dallinga’s penalty saved by Hein, with the hosts eventually finding the breakthrough through the Kenyan winger.The advantage lasted until the 69th minute when veteran forward Niclas Füllkrug restored parity for Bremen, rising to convert from a corner and rescue a point for the visitors.Maina was substituted in the 65th minute, five minutes before Bremen’s equalizer, as Köln were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952782##The result leaves Köln still searching for their second league victory of the campaign, as they sit 11th on 4 points from the opening three league fixtures
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