The club was ranked among the top ten clubs in Africa, at number 80, by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in their 1 September 2022 – 30 August 2023 rankings. Globally, the club was ranked at number 104 in the IFFHS World Ranking.[2][3]
The club became a symbol of the anti-colonial movement. Young Africans became associated with nationalists, freedom fighters and Sam Gosmore and inspired the political party TANU to adopt yellow and green as their primary colours. The club is currently in a process that will keep the club ownership 49% for investors and the rest 51% to the club members.
The club holds a long-standing rivalry with Simba, with whom they contest the Kariakoo derby, named after the district where both teams were founded. The rivalry was ranked 5th as one of the most famous African derbies.[4]
On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, Young Africa made history when they became the first Tanzanian club to reach a CAF Confederation Cup final defeating Marumo Gallants 4-1 on aggregate and they faced USM Algiers from Algeria on the Cup's Finals which they lost 2-2 on aggregate due to away goals.[5][6][7]
After winning the Tanzania Premier League Championship for a third consecutive time in the 2023-24 season, Yanga achieved a historical milestone of winning the country's Premier League title for the 30th time.[8]
History
The club's roots can be traced as far back as the 1910s, but the officially recognised history of the club started in 1935 when Dar es Salaam residents, who were grouped as Africans by the colonial administration in Tanganyika, decided to form a football club to compete in a league which was full of "non-Africans" football clubs. The name New Young is said to be the club's first name. Later it was replaced by the name Dar es Salaam Young Africans SC, and eventually the name changed to Young Africans Sports Club.
After its establishment in 1935, its members squabbled over their team's poor performance and results. The club had an even poorer and unsatisfactory performance in 1936 that caused some of the members to split and form another team. The proponents of breaking away were Arabs who saw fit to cause conflict among the club members that led to a split. They succeeded and together with dissidents formed a club known as Queens F.C./Sunderland F.C. (currently Simba). The two teams, Young Africans and Simba, have been rivals ever since.
In 2020, Yanga signed a consultancy deal with La Liga.[9] On 27 May, the members of the club agreed to change their club's ruling structure to allow private investments from other companies.
On 17 May 2023, Yanga for the first time in its history qualified to a Continental final after defeating Marumo Gallants in the semi-final.[10] On 3 June, Yanga Lost the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup final against USM Alger On Saturday, 16 September 2023, Yanga became the first African club to have over 2000 fans traveling with the team to an away CAF official match. The game was conducted at Kigali in Rwanda, a journey of 1156km, which is over 20 hour drive distance. They bossed the game and of course thwarted the Sudanese side 2-0.[11][12]
The Young Africans drew an average home attendance of 9,460 in the 2023-24 edition of the Premier League, the highest in the league.[13]
Club identity
Yanga has historically drawn support from working-class and low-income African communities. In contrast to its main rival, Simba SC (originally Sunderland), which developed connections with Arab, Asian, and civil service networks, Yanga’s early identity was closely associated with urban Africans and the broader nationalist movement.[14]
During the colonial era, Yanga SC was informally linked to the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), the political party that led the country to independence under Julius Nyerere.[15] With political gatherings restricted under British rule, Yanga’s facilities were occasionally used for discreet meetings by TANU members. The club also played a role in raising funds and awareness in support of both the mainland independence movement and that of Zanzibar’s Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP).[14] These historical connections contributed to the perception of Yanga as a club aligned with nationalist and independence-era values.
Following independence, the close relationship between football and government structures continued. From the 1960s onward, the Tanzanian state, under TANU and later the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) political party, played a central role in regulating sports, including Yanga SC.[15] In 1967, the government dismissed the entire leadership of the national football association and required that their replacements be members of TANU. The authorities also ensured that the leadership of Yanga and Simba were aligned with the ruling party. In 1971, the construction of Yanga's headquarters was entirely funded by the ASP, which later merged with TANU in 1977 to form Chama Cha Mapinduzi.[14] They operated the club under principles aligned with Nyerere’s Ujamaa socialist ideology. This included collective ownership by members and funding through community contributions.[15]
In recent decades, there has been growing discussion about modernising the club’s structure to enhance competitiveness. In response to changing expectations and increased participation in continental competitions, Yanga has considered partial privatisation. A 49% stake was opened to private investment, though public discourse has raised questions about the influence of political actors in club governance.[15][14]
Rivalry with Simba SC
The rivalry between Simba SC and Yanga SC is one of the most prominent features of Tanzanian football and has deep historical and social roots. Originating in the 1930s as community-based teams in Dar es Salaam, the two clubs quickly developed into national symbols, with widespread support across the country. Their early rivalry extended beyond sport, reflecting broader social tensions: Yanga was seen as representing native Africans and the working class, while Simba (then Sunderland) attracted support from wealthier and foreign communities, particularly Asian traders and Europeans.[14]
This rivalry intensified during the nationalist era, as Yanga aligned closely with the TANU independence movement. Competitive tensions increased through league titles and notable matches, such as Simba's 6–0 win over Yanga in 1977, which caused internal conflict within Yanga and led to the formation of Pan African S.C. by expelled players. While Pan African briefly added a third dimension to the rivalry in the 1980s, Simba and Yanga remained the dominant forces. The rivalry continued into the 1990s and 2000s, fuelled by commercial sponsorships and efforts to sign top players. The emergence of Azam F.C. in 2008 introduced a new competitor, but the traditional Simba/Yanga rivalry remains the most intense.[14]
Colours and badge
The old crest
The present crest
Players
Current squad
As of As of 15 August 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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