Young Africans claimed a 2-0 win over Fadlu Davids’ Simba SC in the season finale to secure their record-extending fourth consecutive championship in the Kariakoo derby at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday.

Ivorian attacking midfielder Pacome Zouzoua broke the deadlock from the spot, seven minutes after the hour mark, before Clement Mzize put the game beyond reasonable doubt with a stunner in the 89th minute.

As a result, Yanga completed a league double over their fierce rivals for two successive seasons, having won the first leg of the tie with a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to Maxi Nzengeli’s solitary goal back in October last year.

However, the Reds of Msimbazi put up a valiant fight to take the title race down to the wire, as they have been heavily breathing down Timu Ya Wananchi’s neck throughout the season, with their only two defeats coming in the derby.

Heading into the famed derby, only one point separated the two Tanzanian giants, with Yanga at the top of the standings with 79 points accumulated, while second-placed Simba followed with 78 points before the crunch encounter.

Now, with the hard-fought victory, the title holders amassed a formidable tally of 82 points to oust their bitter rivals with a four-point gap. This comes as Yanga notched up a remarkable 27 wins, one draw, and two defeats in 30 league outings.

Meanwhile, the South African mentor oversaw Simba surpass the 75-point mark for the first time in four seasons, in what was his first campaign in charge of the 22-time Tanzanian champions, who also reached the CAF Confederation Cup final, where they lost to RS Berkane of Morocco.

Despite his utmost best to go toe-to-toe with Young Africans, Davids lost ground on the finishing line as the target to deliver a first league title to the red side of Dar es Salaam since the 2020/21 term, took a major setback at the death.

While Yanga are on course for a domestic double with the CRDB cup final on the horizon, Simba finished the season trophyless. However, there is a silver lining as the former Orlando Pirates co-coach guided his team back to the CAF Champions League.