Tanzanian heavyweights Yanga were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against record African champions Al Ahly in their matchday 4 CAF Champions League Group Stage clash played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Saturday afternoon.
Yanga certainly got the brightest start in the match and they controlled possession in the opening exchanges as they looked for the breakthrough.
Mohamed Damaro was the first to try and see how alert Oufa Shobeir was in the Al Ahly goal but his effort just missed the target.
Ivory Coast international Pacome Zouzoua came the closest to causing some serious trouble for the travelling Egyptians as he forced Shobeir to come off his line and make a good save on the stroke of the hour mark.
Yanga continued wit h their positive play and their effort was rewarded in half time stoppage time when Ibrahim Bacca found himself in the right place after a corner kick to bundle into the back of the net to give his side the deserved advantage heading into the break.
Al Ahly come from behind to force draw against Yanga
In the second half, Al Ahly came out of the dressing rooms a much more reinvigorated side as they pushed for the equalizer.
With clear cut chances hard to come by for them, former Aston Villa man Trezeguet unleashed a long range shot that forced Djigui Diarra to punch the ball over the bar.
What had looked like an innoucous phase of play came at a deadly cost as Aliou Dieng pounced on a loose ball in the area to restore parity from the corner kick.
With fifteen minutes left to play, Max Nzengeli missed a chance to put Yanga back ahead as his free header veered off target.
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Starting XI
Yanga: Djigui Diarra(GK), Job Dickson, Chadrack Boka(Mohamed Hussein (68′), Bakari Mwamnyeto, Mohamed Damaro, Allan Okello (Israel Mwenda 85′), Duke Abuya, Depu (Prince Dube 73′), Max Nzengeli, Pacome Zouzoua
Al Ahly: Oufa Shobeir, Mohamed Hany, Ahmed Kouka, Yasser Ibrahim (Ahmed Ramadan 80′), Yassin Marei, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed Taher (Achraf Bencharki 63′), Marwan Attia (Mohamed Ben Romdhane 63′), Marwan Otaka, Zizo (Ahmed Eid 80′), Trezeguet