Young Africans sack Manqoba Mngqithi after poor run

Young Africans have terminated the contracts of head coach Manqoba Mngqithi and midfield coach Chyna Mokaila following a disappointing run of results that has left the Tanzanian giants five points behind league leaders Simba.

The Tanzanian club announced the immediate departures of the two South African coaches in a public notice dated October 24, 2026, confirming that preparations to appoint a new head coach were already underway.

Mngqithi’s dismissal comes after Saturday’s draw against TRA United, a result that further dented Young Africans’ title ambitions and increased the pressure on the technical team.

Simba, coached by fellow South African tactician Steve Barker, currently lead the standings, leaving Young Africans with ground to make up in the race for domestic honours.

Young Africans move to reset technical team

In its statement, Young Africans confirmed that both Mngqithi and Mokaila had been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.

“The leadership of the Young Africans Sports Club would like to inform the public that it has reached a decision to terminate the contract of the Head Coach of the senior team, Manqoba Mngqithi,” the club announced.

The statement also confirmed the departure of Mokaila, who served as the senior team’s midfield coach.

“Additionally, the leadership of the Young Africans Sports Club has terminated the contract of the senior team’s Midfield Coach, Chyna Mokaila.”

The club expressed appreciation for the contributions of both officials and wished them well in their future endeavours.

“The leadership thanks these officials for their contributions within our club and wishes them all the best in their new responsibilities,” the statement added.

Young Africans also indicated that the search for Mngqithi’s successor would be expedited as they seek to restore stability and improve their results.

“Preparations to quickly find a new Head Coach have already begun and are expected to be completed soon,” the club said.

The decision marks a significant change for the club as it attempts to close the gap on Simba and revive its campaign.

Mngqithi’s Tanzanian spell ends after three months

Mngqithi arrived at Young Africans in July 2026, signing a two-year contract that was expected to provide continuity and direction for the club.

However, his tenure has ended after approximately three months, with the team’s recent results contributing to the decision to terminate his contract.

The 55-year-old arrived in Tanzania with considerable experience in South African football, having held coaching positions at Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns.

His departure comes at a critical stage of the season, with Young Africans facing the challenge of appointing a replacement capable of narrowing the five-point deficit to their rivals.

The club will now look to identify a new head coach quickly as it seeks to get its campaign back on track.

Sundowns success among Mngqithi’s career highlights

Mngqithi built much of his reputation during an extended spell with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he spent more than a decade in various coaching roles.

He was part of the technical team that guided the Pretoria-based club to the CAF Champions League title in 2016 and contributed to its success in domestic competitions.

Before his time at Sundowns, Mngqithi worked with Golden Arrows, where he won the MTN8 Cup.

His experience and record in South African football made him a notable appointment for Young Africans, but his spell in Tanzania has ended earlier than anticipated.

With both Mngqithi and Mokaila now gone, attention turns to Young Africans’ next appointment and whether a change in leadership can help the club close the gap on Simba in the league title race.