Zanzibar Premier League side Mlandege FC have qualified for the final of the Mapinduzi Cup 2023.
Mlandege FC edged Namungo FC 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a semi final match played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Monday.
The home side will now face Tanzania Premier League side, Singida Big Stars FC in the final on Friday. Singida humbled Azam FC 4-1 in the first semi final played on Sunday.
In that match Abdul Sopu gave Azam the lead, and Francy Kazadi showed his appetite for goals netting four for Singida Big Stars FC.
“We are very happy to get to the final without losing a single match since the tournament kicked off. The players are well motivated to go and give their best in order to win the title,” said Singiga Big Stars FC’s assistant coach Matia Lule.
The Mapinduzi Cup 2023 has been with lots of surprises with giant teams Simba SC and Young Africans SC from the Tanzania Premier league all eliminated in the group stage of the competition.
The tournament attracted 12 teams including guest side Aigle Noir CS from Burundi. The Mapinduzi Cup is a competition used to mark the celebrations of the anniversary of the revolution of Zanzibar.
Khamis Abdulla Said, Chairman of the Mapinduzi Cup Committee said that they are excited that a team from Zanzibar has qualified for the final.
“It has been a very competitive tournament and the two teams in the final have been playing well since the tournament started on January 1st,” added Said.
Azam FC have won the Mapinduzi Cup a record five times (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), while Simba SC lifted the title in 2011, 2015 and 2022.
Young Africans SC and Mtibwa Sugar have each won the title twice, while Zanzibar sides Jamhuri FC, Polisi SC, KMKM SC, Mafunzo FC, Malindi FC, Miembeni FC and Ugandan sides KCC FC and URA FC have lifted the title once.
