Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge was satisfied with the performance of his charges after securing a 1-0 win against Mbeya Kwanza to advance to the Round of 16 of the CRDB Bank Federation Cup on Sunday.

Iddi Nado provided the only goal for the Ice Cream Makers when he arrived to fire in from a low cross in the 10th minute. Despite the slim win, Ibenge praised his players for ending a run of two league matches without a win.

 

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Before the Cup game, Azam had drawn two consecutive matches – 2-2 against Pamba Jiji and 0-0 against Tanzania Prisons. They had won their previous fixture 3-0 against Mtibwa Sugar.

To qualify was most important thing

“I am very happy, we scored one goal and qualified and it was the most important thing, to qualify in this case,” Ibenge told Pan-Africa Football.

“Remember we came into the game with two straight draws, and it was time to stop the draws, so today we won, and we are happy and because we are going to play five games outside, it will be difficult but we are happy to be in the next stage.”

He added: “My players have to be confident, against Mwanza we were not good enough, against Pamba we were not good enough in the second period. I am not disappointed, we took two points, we couldn’t take more, and today we won to qualify for the next stage.”

Ibenge continued: “We next play Dodoma, we know it will be tough, but we will be ready for the maximum points.”

Mbeya Kwanza picked positives despite defeat

Mbeya Kwanza coach Maka Mwalwisi congratulated Azam for the victory. He said: “First, I congratulate Azam for the win.

“It was not an easy game, but I have to commend Azam for giving us enough positives from the game, but I have to praise my players, since they played according to instructions,”

“We only made one mistake and they punished us. We failed to cover the area and got punished. That is the only mistake we made but we have learnt from it.”

Reigning league and cup champions Young Africans (Yanga) continued their defense of the latter on Sunday with a 7-1 drubbing of Polisi Tanzania.

Simba SC advanced to the Round of 16 on Saturday with a victory over NBC Championship club B19 FC while there was little to no surprise as the results played out over the weekend.

Ibenge Praises Azam FC After Federation Cup Victory

Azam FC head coach Ibenge expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance after they secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Mbeya Kwanza to advance to the Round of 16 of the CRDB Bank Federation Cup on Sunday.

The crucial win helped Azam FC bounce back after a series of mixed results in the league and ensured their continued progress in one of Tanzania’s major domestic competitions.

Early goal secures qualification

The only goal of the match came early in the first half when Iddi Nado found the back of the net in the 10th minute. The forward reacted quickly to a low cross inside the penalty area and calmly finished to give Azam FC the lead.

Although the match remained competitive throughout, Azam FC managed to hold onto their advantage until the final whistle.

After the match, Ibenge praised the effort shown by his players, especially considering the team had recently struggled to secure victories in league matches.

The coach emphasized that the most important outcome of the match was qualification for the next round of the tournament.

Ending a difficult run of results

Before the Federation Cup fixture, Azam FC had endured a difficult period in the league. The team had drawn two consecutive matches, first recording a 2–2 draw against Pamba Jiji before being held to a goalless stalemate by Tanzania Prisons.

Despite those results, the team had earlier produced a strong performance with a convincing 3–0 victory against Mtibwa Sugar.

For Ibenge, the victory against Mbeya Kwanza was an important step toward restoring confidence within the squad.

Speaking after the game, the Azam FC coach said qualifying for the next round was the primary objective.

“I am very happy, we scored one goal and qualified and it was the most important thing, to qualify in this case,” Ibenge told Pan-Africa Football.

He added that the team needed to stop the run of draws and regain momentum.

“Remember we came into the game with two straight draws, and it was time to stop the draws. Today we won and we are happy.”

Azam preparing for challenging fixtures

The Congolese tactician also highlighted the challenges awaiting his side in upcoming matches. According to Ibenge, Azam FC will soon face a demanding schedule that includes several away games.

Because of this, he believes the team must build confidence and maintain consistency in their performances.

“My players have to be confident. Against Mwanza we were not good enough, against Pamba we were not good enough in the second period,” he explained.

Despite acknowledging the team’s recent inconsistencies, Ibenge said he was satisfied with the progress made in the cup match.

He also looked ahead to Azam FC’s next league fixture against Dodoma, which he expects to be a difficult encounter.

“We next play Dodoma, we know it will be tough, but we will be ready for the maximum points,” he said.

Mbeya Kwanza take positives despite defeat

Mbeya Kwanza head coach Maka Mwalwisi remained optimistic despite his team’s elimination from the competition.

The coach congratulated Azam FC for their victory but praised his players for their effort and discipline throughout the match.

“First, I congratulate Azam for the win,” Mwalwisi said after the game.

He explained that the match was closely contested and that his players largely followed the tactical instructions given before kickoff.

However, the coach admitted that a single defensive mistake ultimately cost his side the game.

“We only made one mistake and they punished us. We failed to cover the area and got punished. That is the only mistake we made, but we have learnt from it,” he added.

Other Federation Cup results

Elsewhere in the CRDB Bank Federation Cup, reigning Tanzanian champions Young Africans continued their strong form in the competition.

Yanga delivered an impressive performance with a dominant 7–1 victory over Polisi Tanzania, sending a clear message to their rivals as they aim to defend the trophy.

Simba SC also secured their place in the Round of 16 after defeating NBC Championship side B19 FC on Saturday.

Overall, the weekend’s matches produced few surprises, with several top clubs progressing smoothly to the next stage of the tournament.

For Ibenge and Azam FC, however, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum as they continue their campaign in both the Federation Cup and the Tanzanian league.