Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has parted ways with Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga) after only three months in charge.
The South African coach’s short spell in Tanzania has come to an abrupt end following a difficult run of results that has seen Yanga lose ground in the domestic title race.
Mngqithi’s brief Yanga spell comes to an end
Mngqithi took charge of Young Africans in July 2026 after signing a two-year contract, but he will leave the club well before the end of that agreement.
His tenure initially showed plenty of promise. The experienced coach helped Yanga win the Tanzanian Community Shield and guided the club into the CAF Champions League group stage.
However, recent results appear to have changed the mood around the club.
Yanga were held by TRA United on Saturday, a result that left them five points behind rivals Simba SC. The growing gap at the top of the table added further pressure on Mngqithi and his technical team.
From Sundowns success to sudden exit
Mngqithi arrived in Tanzania with a wealth of experience from South African football.
He spent many years at Mamelodi Sundowns, working in various coaching and technical roles, while also having a spell with Golden Arrows.
His departure from Yanga represents another unexpected change in his coaching career and leaves questions over what went wrong after such a promising beginning.
Despite the disappointment of his early exit, Mngqithi leaves with two notable achievements from his short tenure: a domestic Community Shield triumph and Champions League qualification.
What next for Mngqithi?
The experienced coach will now have to assess his next move after an abrupt end to his Tanzanian adventure.
For Young Africans, the priority will be finding a replacement capable of stabilising the team and closing the gap on Simba SC.
Was Mngqithi’s dismissal justified, or should he have been given more time to turn things around?
