Celebrated Kenyan referee Peter Waweru was the Video Assistant Referee in the match that was marred with fan trouble before kick off
Tanzanian champions Yanga have made it difficult for themselves heading to the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final after losing the first leg 2-1 to Algerian side USM Alger at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Celebrated Kenyan referee Peter Waweru was the Video Assistant Referee in the match that was marred with fan trouble before kick off as thousands tried to gain entry.
Out of the sixteen international referees in Kenya, Waweru is the only Kenyan referee who is trained and accredited on the usage of video technology.
Yanga were looking to take maximum advantage of home comfort and thump Alger but that never saw the light of the day as the North Africans won the duel much to the disappointment of the thousands of home fans.
Yanga faithful had painted the 60,000 seater facility yellow as it has been their tradition whenever the team is doing battle at the continental level.
Alger had eliminated Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas 2-0 on aggregate while Yanga had dumped South Africa's Marumo Gallants 4-1 on aggregate.
Alger took the lead in the 32nd minute through Aymen Mahious, a goal that separated the two sides going into the 15-minute long breather.
Yanga drew level in the 82nd minute through Congolese forward Fiston Mayele but the celebration was shortlived as Islam Merili restored Alger's lead two minutes later.
The defeat leaves Yanga with an uphill task of winning the return leg set for next weekend in Algiers.