FOLLOWING their saddening 2-0 loss to the Sudanese club Al Hilal in their disappointing group stage opener of the CAF Champions League, Young Africans SC were utterly determined to return to winning ways last Saturday in their second group stage matchup against their experienced Algerian opponents MC Alger in the latter’s backyard.

However, despite Young Africans’ steely resolve, they still suffered a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to their hosts, MC Alger, which has left an army of Young Africans supporters feeling deflated and a bit dejected.

Indeed, Young Africans’ lackluster form in this season’s CAF Champions League is a far cry from their dazzling displays in this same elite competition last season.

Fueled by a massive desire to soar to unprecedented heights Young Africans gladdened the hearts of their avid devotees by progressing to the quarterfinals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League, which was a truly historic first for the Tanzanian heavyweights.

 In addition, in the season before last, Young Africans lost the final of the CAF Confederations Cup by a hair’s breadth as the Jangwani Street-based side narrowly lost the tournament’s finale on the away goals rule.

 In light of all of the aforesaid points, it is easy to understand why big things were expected from Young Africans in this season’s CAF Champions League.

Having lost their opening two group stage clashes on the bounce, Young Africans clearly have their work cut out for them as they attempt to turn around their fortunes in the demanding group stage of this season’s CAF Champions League.

As for Simba SC, they suffered their first defeat of the CAF Confederations Cup’s group stage when the Msimbazi Street-based outfit succumbed to a 2-1 loss to CS Constantine of Algeria on the latter’s home patch last Sunday.

In the wake of that setback, Simba do not have any time to dwell on their sorrow as the club must rapidly regroup lest they be caught napping in the ensuing group stage contests.

Thus, as the group stages of both the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup are now in full swing, hope springs eternal that Young Africans and Simba can rediscover their way again in both revered football championships.

Switching gears, it is arguably fair to say that the 21-year-old sprinting sensation from Botswana, Letsile Tebogo, was an unknown quantity at the beginning of the multi-sport, pulsating Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Nevertheless, despite not being a household name, Tebogo simply shrugged that off as he went on to rewrite the history books in the 200 meters final to fabulously claim the gold medal, which was significantly the first in his country’s history.

Indeed, Tebogo’s monumental accomplishment was greeted with seemingly ceaseless jubilation in his home country as the President of Botswana even declared August 9, 2024 as a public holiday in honour of the gifted athlete’s triumphant exertions.

With the end of this year just round the corner, it is dearly hoped that Tebogo will be able to pick up from where he left off in the New Year.