By Business Insider Reporter
NBC Premier League leaders Young Africans SC suffered their first league defeat of the season after a dramatic 3-2 loss to Dodoma Jiji FC at Airtel Stadium in Singida, in a result that could reignite the 2025/26 title race.
It is one and half years since Yanga lost a Premier League game, making Dodoma Jiji win hictoric.
Yanga had been the only unbeaten side in the league heading into Round 23, underlining their dominance throughout much of the campaign.
But a stoppage-time winner from Waziri Junior finally brought their remarkable run to an end and handed Dodoma Jiji one of the biggest victories of their season.
The defending champions made a blistering start to the match when midfielder Allam Okello opened the scoring after connecting with a cross from Yao Kouassi. Okello doubled Yanga’s advantage shortly afterwards, appearing to put the visitors firmly in control before the break.
However, Dodoma Jiji found a lifeline late in the first half after Yanga defender Bakari Mwamnyeto inadvertently turned Edgar William’s dangerous cross into his own net, reducing the deficit and shifting momentum back to the home side.
Yanga had several opportunities to restore a comfortable lead in the second half, but striker Prince Dube squandered a number of clear chances that later proved costly. The missed opportunities allowed Dodoma Jiji to remain in the contest and gradually grow in confidence.
The turning point came after a costly defensive misunderstanding between Mwamnyeto and substitute goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga, who had replaced first-choice keeper Djigui Diarra. Another dangerous cross into the penalty area exposed the confusion, with Mwamnyeto leaving the ball for his goalkeeper while Masalanga appeared to expect the defender to clear it. The ball slipped through and ended up in the net for Dodoma Jiji’s equaliser.
As the match entered its closing stages, Yanga pushed aggressively for a winner, leaving spaces at the back. Dodoma Jiji capitalised on a rapid counterattack after clearing pressure from their goal area. The ball eventually reached Waziri Junior, who surged forward before firing a low shot past Masalanga deep into stoppage time to complete a stunning comeback.
The result ends Yanga’s unbeaten streak and injects fresh tension into the title race. The Dar es Salaam giants remain top of the table with 54 points, but rivals Simba SC now have a major opportunity to close the gap. If Simba defeat Mashujaa FC in their upcoming fixture, the points difference between the two sides will shrink to just two. The defeat also highlights growing competitiveness in the NBC Premier League this season, where clubs outside the traditional powerhouses have increasingly challenged the established order. Dodoma Jiji’s victory could prove significant not only in the title race, but also in boosting confidence among emerging clubs seeking to disrupt the dominance of Tanzania’s football giants.
