The Yanga squad is expected to resume training today after a few days off, as club bosses return to the transfer market to strengthen the attacking department following developments surrounding striker Clement Mzize.
Mzize has been sidelined for a long period due to injury. Although he was recently seen doing light training, the reality is that things have not gone as planned for the striker, who finished last season as the club’s top scorer in the NBC Premier League with 14 goals. This situation has forced the club’s leadership to urgently return to the market in search of another goal-scoring option.
Information from within Yanga indicates that the major concern regarding Mzize is that he may only be able to resume full training at the end of February next year or in the first week of March, as the club’s medical team is unwilling to rush his return.
One Yanga official told Mwanaspoti that Mzize’s injury was serious and required a very delicate surgical procedure. Although his recovery is progressing well, they do not believe he will be ready quickly, as he needs sufficient time to heal fully.
These circumstances have compelled Yanga’s leadership and coaching staff to reassess their plans and begin searching for another quality striker who can partner with Prince Dube, a player head coach Pedro Goncalves has full confidence in.
Yanga is keen to sign a new striker in time for the upcoming CAF Champions League fixtures, as upon returning they are scheduled to face Egypt’s Al Ahly away on January 23, 2026, before hosting the return leg on January 30, 2026.
If Yanga succeeds in signing a new striker, it could put the position of Andy Boyeli at risk. Boyeli has struggled to make an impact so far and has featured mostly as a substitute rather than a regular starter.
“The coach (Pedro) knows Mzize very well. We all believed he would return quickly, but based on the report we received, there is a strong possibility we will need to wait longer for him to fully recover,” said the official.
“If Mzize had been likely to return earlier, the coach believed we would already have the right man—fast and capable of making a big impact in these important upcoming matches.
“We are therefore looking for another striker while waiting for Mzize to fully recover. The remaining matches carry a lot of weight, and we must have the best possible players who can decide these games. We want to have someone in place before the group-stage matches so he can begin adapting to the pressure of this competition.”
In addition to a striker, Yanga is also actively searching for a quality attacking midfielder (a number 10) to strengthen the squad, as emphasized by head coach Pedro.
The club still has concerns over the performances of Mamadou Doumbia, who has yet to register a goal or an assist, and Lassine Kouma, who has scored only once so far—both of whom have not delivered the impact that was expected of them.
Although there is secrecy surrounding the identity of the striker being targeted by Yanga, sports sources suggest that Laurindo Dilson Maria Aurélio ‘Depu’ of Angola is among the candidates. It is also reported that another striker from DR Congo is being closely monitored.
Depu, 25, who previously played for Sagrada Esperança and Petro Atlético in Angola and finished as the top scorer of the COSAFA Cup in two consecutive seasons (2024 and 2025), currently plays for Radomiak Radom in Poland.
