Uganda’s CAF Dream Ends as SC Villa and Kitara Fall

Uganda’s continental dream in this year’s CAF club football tournaments ended this weekend as SC Villa and Kitara were knocked out in the preliminary rounds of their respective competitions.

On Saturday, record league champions SC Villa endured a painful knockout on their return to the CAF Champions League. After nearly two decades without participating in the competition, Morley Byekwaso’s charges lost to Ethiopia’s CBE 3-2 on aggregate.

Following a 2-1 first-leg defeat at Namboole, Villa quietly traveled to Addis Ababa seeking to overturn the one-goal deficit. However, just like in Namboole, the hosts scored first to take control of proceedings. With all hope seemingly lost, the mercurial Patrick Kakande scored from the penalty spot to bring Villa level on the day.However, this was not enough to overcome a well-drilled CBE, who guarded their solitary goal lead.

Villa will be ruing having failed to take home advantage in Namboole. CBE will face Tanzania’s Young Africans, who whitewashed Burundi’s Vital’O FC 10-0 on aggregate, in the next round.

Kitara bows out with pride

In the other game, Kitara FC seemed to have acclimatized to life in Libya as they went down fighting against Muhammad Shaban’s Al Hilal Benghazi. On their first continental journey, Kitara played a goal galore against the Libyan side, which ended 6-4 on aggregate.

With Chrispus Kusiima having been sent off in the 3-2 first-leg loss, Farouk Yawe had an immense display within the sticks. A brace from Hemeya Tanjy and a goal from Mohamed Salim put Kitara on the backfoot. However, goals from Denis Omedi and Titus Ssematimba ensured a proud exit for the Royals.

Having failed to secure a stadium in Uganda for their continental debut, Kitara chose to host their first leg in Libya. This as both CAF accredited stadiums had engagements on the days. St Mary’s Stadium Kitende hosted Vipers Fans finale as an empty Namboole hosted Villa.

The Libyans will face Egypt’s Al Masry in the second preliminary round as Kitara prepares for the Ugandan Premiership in September.