Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya was in action as Yanga’s dominance in the CRDB Federation Cup was finally ended, thanks to a 3-2 semifinal defeat to ten-man Azam at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, Tanzania on Sunday, 21 June.
Abuya, 32, was a starter in midfield for Yanga as they conceded a late extra-time winner from Congolese striker Jephte Kitambala, ending their four-season hold on the domestic title. Azam took the lead in the tie in the 28th minute through Himid Mkami, before the visitors found their way back through Zimbabwean striker Prince Dube in the 67th minute. Yanga were two minutes later handed a stroke of luck after Azam defender Che Malone was shown a straight red card for a dangerous foul on Dube, giving the men in green and yellow the numerical advantage heading into the dying embers of the game.
It was Azam, however, who retook the lead, this after Elias Lawi headed home a corner from former Yanga man Feisal Salum with five minutes of regular time left on the clock. Yanga, again, stayed alive when skipper Bakari Mwamnyeto headed in an excellent delivery from Allan Okello in the 88th minute, sending the game into extra time.
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Once there, Yanga would again labor against their numerically inferior opponents, before being struck with a hammer blow in the 112th minute, the moment Kitambala pounced on a loose backpass from Ibrahim ‘Bacca’ Hamad, to calmly slot past keeper Djigui Diarra. The win secured Azam a trip to the cup final on Saturday, 4 July, where they will face Simba SC, who emerged as 4-0 victors over Coastal Union on Saturday, 20 June.