Football

Five Talking points from Uganda Premier League Match Day 20

Published

7 months ago

March 12, 2026

Match day 20 of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League highlighted significant title race shift with SC Villa losing 1-0 to Police leaving them far behind.

BUL, NEC and URA continue resurgence, recurring questions over match officials’ decisions and Entebbe UPPC’s lack goals.

Three horse race?

KCCA and Kitara are keeping pace with Vipers

Vipers grinded out another result beating UPDF 2-1 at Bombo. And just like it happened in Kamwenge over the weekend, they had to dig deep to snatch a winner after the army side equalised late on.

With Villa falling to Police and wins for KCCA and Kitara against Express (3-0) and Mbarara City (1-0) respectively, it leaves only three sides firmly in the race.

Vipers lead with 47 points, four and five ahead of Kitara and KCCA respectively.

Villa title ambitions fade

Kovacevic Zeljko, SC Villa head coach Credit: John Batanudde

Following three points at Police, Villa are now literally nine points behind leaders Vipers with ten match days left to seal the season.

Twists and turns are expected in the title race but surely, it will take a miracle for the Jogoos to win this year’s title.

Another day, another poor decision from the match officials

For the second consecutive match day, SC Villa were victims of a poor decision from the assistant referee after their legit goal against Police was wrongly ruled out for offside.

Is it a planned agenda against Zeljko’s side or just coincidence?

URA, NEC and BUL momentum

NEC players celebrate one of their two goals against UPDF scored by Joseph Dhata (middle) | Credit: NEC

The trio were expected to be challengers for the title but abysmal starts for each respectively saw them fall off very early in the season.

They have however found their groove with NEC and BUL maintaining winning runs and closing in on top four while URA also picked their second win under Hussein Mbalangu and are now out of the relegation talk.

Another clean sheet for Entebbe UPPC but concern over lack of goals continues

Entebbe UPPC have proved a hard nut to crack at the back after yet keeping yet another clean sheet against NEC.

UPPC Goalkeeper Rogers Omedwa has kept 12 clean sheets so far Credit: John Batanudde

That is the 12^th clean sheet in the campaign and lead the charts in this column but it is at the front that they are suffering.

Since the start of the second round, the Printers have scored just once, in a 1-0 win over Mbarara City failing to hit the back of the net in four matches.

If Ambrose Kigozi doesn’t score, they don’t and that must be worrying for Abdallah Mubiru and staff.

The post Five Talking points from Uganda Premier League Match Day 20 appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Football

Alex Yiga sets sights high after joining URA FC

Published

21 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Bryce Mullins

Newly signed URA FC winger Alex Yiga says he is fully committed to giving his all to help the Tax Collectors achieve their target after wrapping up his move from KCCA FC.

The versatile forward sealed a two-year contract on deadline day, becoming the latest addition to Head Coach Jimmy Kintu Mwera’s side ahead of the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League season.

Speaking to the club’s media following his unveiling, the former Uganda Cubs international expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to join the four-time league champions.

“I am very happy to join URA FC and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this great club. I am ready to work hard, learn and continue improving as a player,” Yiga stated.

With competition for places expected to be fierce in URA’s renewed attacking unit, the young attacker emphasised his intent to support the team’s ambitions on the pitch.

“I know the club has important targets this season, and I want to play my part in helping the team achieve them. I will give my best in training and whenever I get the opportunity to represent URA FC,” he added.

Yiga’s arrival offers Coach Kintu significant tactical flexibility in the final third, with the attacker comfortable operating on either flank or through the centre.

The post Alex Yiga sets sights high after joining URA FC appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Football

FKF appeals to Kenyan judiciary to unlock football stalemate

Published

1 day ago

September 23, 2026

Kenny Malone

FKF president addressing the press in Nairobi on Monday, September 21, 2026. Photo courtesy: FKF

The new Premier League season was scheduled to kick off on September 19, but a late court order halted the commencement of the competition amid a promotion and relegation dispute.

Bonface Osano, Marabou News Agency

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) leadership has appealed to the Kenyan Judiciary to help resolve the legal stalemate that has stalled the start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season.

In an address to the nation on Monday, September 21, 2026, FKF president Hussein Mohammed appealed to Chief Justice Martha Koome to intervene and ensure that court processes are not abused to the detriment of Kenyan football.

“I hereby plead with the Judiciary and the President, the Chief Justice Martha Koome, to understand the unique situation we operate in and disallow abuse of processes that ultimately harm all Kenyans,” Hussein pleaded.

The new FKF Premier League season was scheduled to kick off on September 19, but a late court order halted the commencement of the competition amid a promotion and relegation dispute involving FKF, Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United.

The dispute centres on whether Mombasa United should be admitted as the 18th team in the league or play off against Kariobangi Sharks for a place in the top flight.

Kenya’s Sports Act 2013 established the Sports Disputes Tribunal, or SDT, to hear and determine sports-related disputes. However, jurisdictional overlaps have seen some stakeholders turn to the High Court to challenge or seek stays of decisions made by the Tribunal.

Hussein says the resulting legal uncertainty has significant consequences for the football ecosystem.

“While access to justice is a fundamental right, repetitive, calculated, and contradictory legal interventions on the eve of competitions cause immense financial and emotional harm. They disrupt club planning, athlete livelihoods, losses for vendors, broadcasters, and commercial partners. Football dispute resolution must balance legal rights with the stability required to run a functional national league,” he said.

However, FKF has itself faced criticism over its use of the High Court on previous occasions to challenge or seek stays of decisions that have gone against the federation.

Hussein is now calling for football disputes to be resolved through the sport’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms, as provided for under FIFA, CAF and FKF statutes.

“For this reason, FIFA, CAF, and FKF statutes do not allow football-related disputes to be prosecuted in ordinary courts. We must immediately revert to internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the football administrative structures if we are to protect the growth, integrity and development of the game.”

The FKF Premier League remains suspended as the federation engages the affected parties and explores a legal resolution to the dispute.

Marabou News Agency

The post FKF appeals to Kenyan judiciary to unlock football stalemate appeared first on Sports Network Africa.

Football

Tanzania edge Burundi to qualify for U-20 AFCON

Published

2 days ago

September 23, 2026

Elliot Michael

2026 CECAFA U-20 championship (AFCON U-20 Qualifiers)

Semifinal 2: Tanzania 2-0 Burundi
Semifinal 1: Uganda 2-3 Sudan

Tanzania took the second CECAFA Zone slot to the AFCON U-20 finals, joining Sudan at next year’s fiesta in Accra, Ghana.

This was after a 2-0 victory over Burundi in the semifinal of the CECAFA U-20 Championship at the Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam, on Tuesday evening.

Juma Abushiri and Faraji Kayanda scored the goals that inspired Mario Rivera Campesino’s charges.

Tanzania players sing the national anthem | Credit: David Isabirye

Abushiri, a player at Young Africans Sports Club, scored directly from a corner kick past Burundi goalkeeper Omari Niyonkuru on the opening quarter-hour mark.

Simba’s Bashiri Salum Kibaila set up Dodoma Jiji’s Kayanda for the second goal in the 33rd minute to establish a 2-0 lead.

From then on, Tanzania played a cautious game and maintained the lead to progress to the final for Thursday’s final against Sudan.

The final will be preceded by the bronze medal match between Uganda and Burundi.

Uganda lost 3-2 to Sudan in the other semifinal.

Tanzania U20 XI Vs Burundi | Credit: David Isabirye

Team Lineups:

Tanzania XI: Shabano Bakari (G.K.), Ismail Ally, Abubakar Othman, Shomvi Rajabu (Captain), Faraji Kayanda, Bashiri Salum Kibaila, Farid Mzalendo, Ahmad Ahmad, Abdulnassir Abdallah, Juma Abushiri, Evastus Lukanima

Subs: Telvin Mfuse (G.K), Roony Gerry, Abdallah Mnumba, Arafat Masoud, Kelvin Revokatus, Jofrey Malecha, Machela Machela, Juma Sagwe, Omar Mdachi

Head coach: Mario Riveria Campesino (Spain)

Burundi U20 XI vs Tanzania | Credit: David Isabirye

Burundi XI: Omari Niyonkuru (G.K.), Radjabu Nzeyimana, Cadeau Ndayishimye, Sympathique Majidi, Abedi Irakoze, Amini Nshimirimana (Captain), Ali-Ali Sadiki, Dieudonne Ndikumana, Abdallah Ndikumana, Roy Amissi, Ally Magambo

Subs: Papy Victoire Mude (G.K.), Djibane Kwizera, Lionel Bigirimana, Abdoul Rahim Ndizeye, Yussuf Nshimirimana, Aubin Ntwari, Jacques Irankunda, Theogene Minani, Hamissi Nahimana

Head coach: Jean De Dieu Rukundo (Burundi)