FIFA has imposed a transfer ban on Tanzanian Premier League champions Young Africans SC (Yanga) following a dispute regarding the transfer of Ghanaian player Augustine Okrah. The sanction, announced on 5 December 2024, stems from Yanga’s failure to pay the agreed fee of USD 80,000 to Bechem United, Okrah’s former club.
The official FIFA ruling confirmed that Young Africans SC did not honour the payment due for Okrah’s transfer, which had been finalized earlier in the year.
As a result, Yanga has been prohibited from registering new players, both internationally and domestically. The ban will remain in effect until the outstanding amount is fully settled with Bechem United.
In addition to the global transfer ban, FIFA has instructed the Tanzania Football Association to enforce the sanction within the country’s domestic football competitions.
This means that Yanga will be unable to add new players to their squad for the duration of the ban unless the debt is cleared.
The situation has caused further controversy as Augustine Okrah, the player at the center of the dispute, recently confirmed that he has not received the owed payments from Yanga.
The failure to resolve the issue has led to significant frustration, both for Okrah and his former club Bechem United.
This sanction serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to financial agreements in international transfers, with FIFA taking a firm stance in protecting the rights of all parties involved.
Yanga now faces mounting pressure to resolve the matter swiftly to restore their ability to sign new players.
