Harambee Stars Midfielder Reacts After Helping Yanga Reach CAF Champions League Group Stage

Kenyan international Duke Abuya has shared his excitement after his club, Young Africans (Yanga SC), successfully advanced to the group stage of the CAF Champions League on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The Tanzanian giants secured their spot in the lucrative next phase with a decisive 2-0 victory over Silver Strikers at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, overturning a first-leg deficit.

Yanga SC had lost 1-0 in their first leg of the second preliminary round. Speaking after the match, the Harambee Stars midfielder highlighted the team's determination to bounce back.

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"We were focused on qualifying after the first-leg loss," he said as quoted by People Daily. "We were under pressure, but we managed to make a comeback and get a win."

The midfielder, who returned to the starting lineup and delivered a strong performance, acknowledged the increased demands of competing at this level.

"It is a good challenge to keep oneself competitive," Abuya noted. "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."

Yanga mounted an impressive comeback against Silver Strikers, with early goals from Pacome Zouzoua and Dickson Job sealing their progression.

Duke Abuya is one of several Kenyan players who will feature in the group stages of Africa's premier club competitions this season.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, striker Elvis Rupia was instrumental for Singida Black Stars as they booked their place with a 3-1 comeback win against Burundi's Flambeau.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Elvis Rupia's shot led to a penalty that proved crucial in his team's second-leg victory.

Meanwhile, Moses Shumah will join Abuya in the CAF Champions League group stage with his club, Power Dynamos.

The Zambian side advanced with a 3-1 aggregate win over Vipers after a 1-1 draw in the second leg. Shumah continued his fine goal-scoring form, having found the net in the first-leg encounter in Uganda.

Rounding out the successful Kenyan cohort is U20 international Baron Ochieng, whose club, Zamalek of Egypt, will also compete in the CAF group phases.

The ‘White Knights’ eliminated Somalia's Dekadaha, with Ochieng having made his debut for the club in the first-leg victory just six days prior.