CECAFA Kagame Cup
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Saalam
Saturday, 07-08-2021
-Express FC vs Yanga Africans FC @4pm
-KCCA FC vs Messanger Ngozi @7pm
Uganda’s representatives at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup, Express FC and KCCA FC, will have a chance to progress to the semi finals of the competition on Saturday.
Express who sit top of group A have a chance to seal a semi final spot if they avoid defeat on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Eagles started the competition brightly as they defeated Atlabara 1-0 before they conceded a second half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Nyasa Big Bullets, on Wednesday.
After playing two games this week, they have improved on their fitness after concerns about their lack of activity in the six weeks building up to the tournament, were raised by both the players and technical team.
The main issue for Express has been their inability to consolidate their leads in games and as a consequence, they were made to pay dearly against Big Bullets as Muzamir Mutyaba’s goal on 7 minutes could not be added onto.
However, they will continue to be without the services of vice captain Abel Etrude who is serving his final match through suspension. Etrude was sent off in the Red Eagles’ opening match against Atlabara.
Muzamir Mutyaba who scored against Big Bullets has recovered from a knock that saw him taken off at halftime and replaced by Ivan Mayanja. Charles Musiige who started on the bench against Big Bullets is pushing for a start but once again, he is not expected feature at kick-off.
Express are hoping to become the fourth Ugandan side to win the competition. SC Villa (3), KCCA (2) and Police FC (1) are the only Ugandan clubs to win it in the past.
They lost the final in 1994 and 1995 which is their best finish at the competition, to date.
For KCCA, they will be without winger Julius Poloto when they Messanger Ngozi on Saturday at the CECAFA Kagame Cup.
Poloto who captained the side in the 1-0 victory over KMKM on Thursday, got injured late in the game.
KCCA have option that can slot in for the Uganda Kobs international with new signing Yassar Mugerwa among the players waiting for the chance to be slotted in.
After collecting three points from their opening two group B games, the Kasasiro Boys must defeated the Burundi champions to ensure safe passage to the semi finals of the competition.
The Kasasiros find themselves in this situation because of their opening loss to Azam FC.
In what was their first game of Group B, Morley Byekwaso’s side lost 2-0 and it is a scoreline that could prove costly in the end.
KCCA have won the Kagame Cup twice with the first time coming in 1978.
They won the last edition which was held in Rwanda in 2019.