With the local league out and just the 2017 Uganda Cup final to look up, rival football fans are expected to join their Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) counterparts on Saturday at the Philip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo for the Caf Confederation Cup game against Nigerian club, Rivers United.
The man of the day is expected to be young striker Derrick Nsibambi who is in fine form recently, scoring goals across all cylinders, finished the top tier league with 7 and leads the scorers’ chats of the 2017 Uganda Cup with the same figure.
He has bagged two already in the CAF Confederation Cup but will be most remembered for his 94th winner against El Masry in the first leg of the playoff played Lugogo.
The striker also netted the equalizer against Club Africain as KCCA FC won the Group A tie 2-1 to bag their first 3 points of the group stage campaign.
As the 12-time league champions host the Nigerian outfit, the 22 year striker is oozing with confidence.
“It is a must-win game for us, all teams are on three points we need to make it six on our side as we try to qualify for the group stage,” Nsibambi told his club websites after the Thursday evening training session, he also added.” To excel in competitions like these, you must use your home advantages, we wouldn’t be at this stage if we weren’t utilizing ours, so it should be the same story against Rivers on Saturday.”
KCCA FC lost the opening game of the competition against FUS Rabat 3-0 in Morocco while Rivers United fell to Club Africain 3-1 in Tunisia.
Both teams recovered at home, KCCA FC defeating Club Africain 2-1 at Lugogo while Rivers United saw off FUS Rabat 1-0 in Nigeria.
Nigerians determined to upset KCCA
Rivers United’s technical manager, Stanley Eguma on Sunday saw his team 1-2 to El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri on Matchday 21 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Eguma says he has now put the defeat behind him to focus on the club’s next task – a potentially decisive game versus KCCA
“We were very disappointed to have lost to El-Kanemi but we must now put that behind us to focus on our next game against KCCA,” Eguma told supersport
“The group is very competitive as all four clubs have three points each having won their home matches.
“It means that getting a point at least against KCCA in Kampala is very important as it could be decisive in the end,” he said.
Only two teams will progress to the quarterfinals from Group A that also includes two North African sides, Club Africain and FUS Rabat.
Having previously faced the two North African sides on the first two matchdays, Eguma took the time to assess his side’s chances of further progress in the competition.
“The only team we have not faced so far is KCCA who are a good side following the intel I have on them.
“I think FUS and Club Africain are technically better (than KCCA) but I still think we can finish in the top two by the time we play all our group matches.
“It is important not to lose on Saturday to KCCA but as always, our objective is to win that game,” Eguma concluded.
Tickets for the Saturday tie at Lugogo are already on sale at Shell Petro Stations in Nakawa, Lugogo and Kampala Road together with the Philip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
They go for Shs 10,000/= in the open stands, Shs 20,000/= in the VIP and Shs 50,000/= in the VVIP with free entrance to all students in uniforms.
