Tanzanian giants Yanga have a mountain to climb in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final after losing 2-1 to USM Alger of Algeria in Dar esc Salaam on Sunday.
USM Alger will host Yanga in the return leg on June 3 in Algiers, with the visitors needing to win by at least two clear goals to make history as the first Tanzanian club to win a continental title.
Islam Merili ended his 984-minute CAF Confederation Cup goal drought to give USM Alger a valuable away win away from home.
The Algiers outfit are hoping to become the first club from the north African nation to lift the trophy after compatriots Entente Setif, Mouloudia Bejaia and JS Kabylie lost finals.
History is stacked in their favour as home sides have won 11 and drawn four of 16 previous second legs with 2010 winners FUS Rabat of Morocco the only team to succeed.
Success for USM will maintain a north African dominance of the Confederation Cup with the last five finals being won by clubs from the region.
Yanga are attempting to become only the third east African club after Gor Mahia of Kenya and Merrikh to win a CAF club competition in 150 finals since the first in 1964.
