Harambee Stars ace Duke Abuya speaks on Yanga SC’s progression to CAF CL group stage
By Luke Oluoch, October 26, 2025Young African ace Duke Abuya has expressed his delight after helping his team secure passage to the group phases of the CAF Champions League games on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
The Tanzanian outfit sealed qualification to the money stage of the CAF games after a 2-0 win over Silver Strikers at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium.
Comeback
“We were focused on qualifying after the first leg loss. We were under pressure, but we managed to make a comeback and got a win,” he stated.
Abuya maintained that the demands of the new stage were not lost on him, signalling his readiness to stretch the performance to the next assignments.
“It is a good challenge to keep oneself competitive. At such a stage, you have to maintain the required levels, especially for us as foreign players, or else you will end up losing your spot and relevance in the team,” he added.
With the win, he joined three other Harambee Stars players who will feature in the coveted stage of the continental games.
Elvis Rupia of Singida Black Stars is another who will be making an appearance at the competition.
Rupia featured as Black Stars earned their spot in the CAF Confederations group stages with a 3-1 comeback win over Flambeau of Burundi.
The Kenyan was instrumental in the clash with his shot towards goal, proving crucial in Black Stars’ second goal that came via a penalty.
Black Stars went on to win the return leg clash 3-1.
The first leg tie ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the Tanzanian club to progress.
On their part, Young Africans mounted a stunning comeback to edge Silver Bullets. Pacome ZouaZoua and Dickson Job struck early goals to inspire the team to victory in a game where the Kenyan made his mark at the centre of the park on his return to the starting lineup.
Moses Shumah of Power Dynamos is another Kenyan set to play in the CAF CL group stage. Shumah’s team drew Vipers 1-1 to advance on a 3-1 aggregate win.
The Kenyan bagged a goal in the first-leg tie in Uganda, with his strike in the return leg stretching his fine form in front of goal.
Baron Ochieng of Zamalek in Egypt will also feature in the CAF group phases after the White Knights eliminated Somalia Dekadaha in the second qualifier rounds on Saturday.
The Kenya U20 ace marked his debut with Zamalek six days ago in the first-leg win over the minnows.