Azam FC kept their CAF Confederation Cup knockout hopes alive with a tough 1-0 win over Maniema Union in Dar es Salaam, powered by a first-half strike from Sadio Kanouté.
The midfielder broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, timing his run perfectly to finish after good work from Iddy Nado, and Azam then managed the game intelligently to protect their narrow advantage.
Maniema Union pushed hard after the break, making a flurry of substitutions and trying to overload Azam’s back line, but the hosts stood firm, with Lusajo Mwaikenda earning player-of-the-match honours for his committed display.
A tense closing spell saw a series of yellow cards as Azam slowed the pace and disrupted the visitors’ rhythm, before finally closing out the win after five minutes of added time.
In the Group B standings, Azam now sit 3rd while Maniema Union remain 2nd, with just one round left to play.
Both sides still have everything to fight for in the final matchday: Azam FC face another crucial Group B clash against WAC, while Maniema Union must quickly regroup ahead of their own decisive fixture against Nairobi United.
