Uganda Cranes midfielder Ibrahim Kasule staged a thrilling performance as New York Red Bulls II edged Inter Miami II in the MLS Next Pro at MSU Soccer Park.

Kasule scored a brace as the two teams played to a 3-3 stalemate before the New York Red Bulls registered a victory after spot kicks.

Inside the first ten minutes of the game, Julian Hall fired the hosts into the lead after slotting the ball into the back of the net thanks to Mohammed Solo’s delivery.

With five minutes to end the first stanza, Afonso levelled matters and the scoreboard read 1-1 going into the break.

In the 50^th minute, Roald Mitchell was tripped in the dangerous area and New York Red Bull II was awarded a penalty.

Kasule stepped up and converted from the spot as the hosts regained their lead six minutes into the second stanza. This now extends his conversion rate to seven out of seven from the 12-yard mark.

Six minutes past the hour mark, Kasule completed his brace as he guided home a loose ball as Inter Miami’s backline looked on.

However, New York’s backline went to bed and they conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.

To seal the perfect day for Kasule he also converted a penalty in the post-match spot kicks as New York Red Bull II picked a second point on the day.

He now extends his tally to two goals as well as two assists in the two games played so far.

FUFA Big League – Results

• Lugazi 1-0 Calvary
• Kigezi HomeBoyz 1-0 Kiyinda Boys
• Kataka 2-1 Onduparaka
• Young Elephants 0-0 Kyetume

Abdul Kalanzi was on target as Lugazi secured a 1-0 victory against Calvary in the FUFA Big League at Lugazi Stadium on Sunday.

It was a hard-fought victory as Lugazi needed a second-half strike to seal the all-important points on the day.

Brian Ssali tried a long-range effort but it sailed wide of the frame in the 12^th minute of the game.

Lugazi made a quick change in the 25^th minute as the gaffer introduced Alvin Birungi for Derrick Ochen.

Birungi’s introduction brought life into Lugazi’s middle park with quick and following interplays. The attacking midfielder was awarded two free kicks at the edge of the box but none was converted.

Two minutes into the second stanza, Lugazi brought in Sam Ssemugugu and Mitala Mubarak for Sam Nsubuga and Brian Ssali.

Kalanzi finally broke the deadlock with a well-curled freekick in the 54^th minute sending the home crowd in jubilations.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Mitala engineered an attack that was concluded by Ssemugugu but his final effort went inches wide.

In the 83^rd minute, Lugazi made the last change as Paul Wasswa walked onto the field of play to replace Moses Buga.

The victory puts Lugazi in second position with 34 points in 17 games played in the ongoing campaign.

Uganda U-20 Men’s football team (The Hippos) narrowly lost to Ghana 1-0 in the final of the African Games at Accra Sports Stadium.

In a post-match interview, Byekwaso shared his sorrow and disappointment due to the defensive mistake in a loss to Ghana.

“Our opponents punished us due to that defensive error,” Byekwaso revealed.

“We played well in the first half, but football is football. In the second half, they (Ghana) came up with numbers which disturbed us,” he added.

Ghana’s forward Jerry Afiriye found the back of the net through a powerful effort that a Hippos defensive lapse.

Rogers Torach and goalkeeper Abdu Magadw failed to communicate this costing Uganda in the dying minutes of the game.

“We started playing again and we got two chances, but we did not take them away and our opponents punished us for that,” he concluded.

This was the third time Uganda lost to Ghana in the final of a continental showpiece.

Lango Province have won the Fufa Drum 2023 after edging Busoga Province 2-1 in the final played at the MTN Omondi Stadium.

First half goals from Darius Ojok and Emmanuel Obua were enough to turn Lawrence Tezikya’s second half strike into a consolation.

Lango had a dream start to the game when Ojok headed in skipper Allan Okello’s inviting cross from the left inside ten minutes to send the Lango Province faithful to their feet.

Just after the half hour mark, Busoga’s defense failed to deal with Andrew Ogwang’s long throw in with Obua getting to the end of it to head in past Didi Muhammad as Lango doubled their lead that they took into the halftime break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Herbert Achai had a chance to extend Lango’s lead but he shot into the hands of the goalkeeper.

With fifteen minutes to play, Tezikya pulled a goal back for Busoga Province. The substitute beat Tony Kyamera with a half volley off Isma Kawawulo’s long cross from the left.

Lango Province who were losing finalists last season held on for the win.

• Friendly Game – Result
• Comoros 4-0 Uganda

Uganda Cranes suffered a 4-0 loss to Comoros in an international friendly match played at Grande State, Marrakech on Friday.

This was the first friendly match of the two that Uganda Cranes are set to play in the ongoing International break.

Rafiki Saidi and Faiz Selemani scored a brace each as Comoros registered a well-deserved victory on the day.

It was a tough outing for Paul Put’s charges who conceded twice in the first eight minutes of the game.

Uganda tried to search for a consolation but the first half ended with a 2-0 advantage to Comoros after playing for 45 minutes.

Four minutes to the hour-mark Comoros added a third through Rafiki Said before Selemani sealed the victory from the spot in the 65^th minute.

This was Paul Put’s third game in charge of the team.

However, the rebuild will continue as Put along with the technical team build a side that will play in the upcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers with CHAN at the back of their minds.

Uganda will return to action on Tuesday, March 26 as they take on Ghana in the second game.

• African Gmaes – Final
• Ghana 1-0 Uganda

Uganda U-20 Men’s Football Team (The Hippos) fell to Ghana in a 1-0 loss at the African Games on Friday.

In the game played at Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana needed a late strike from Jerry Afriye to clinch gold in the thrilling tournament.

Ghana started on the front foot as they searched for an early goal but Uganda’s backline stood firm and tall.

In the fifth minute, Zambian referee Hillary Hambaba cancelled the would-be Ghana opener after a foul of Uganda’s goalkeeper Abdu Maganda.

Amidst a fully parked Accra Sports Stadium, Uganda kept their cool in the game as the first stanza ended without either side finding a legitimate goal.

Uganda made their first change in the 75^th minute as Apollo Kagogwe replaced Abasi Kyeyune.

Five minutes later, Uganda nearly took the lead through Jonah Patrick Kakande as his rebound sailed inches of the frame.

With five minutes to play, Kakande delivered a great ball in the area but Bruno Bunyaga’s contact sent the ball straight into the hands of Ghana’s custodian.

At the stroke of full-time, Afiriye broke the deadlock with a powerful strike past Magada. This was due to a miscommunication in the defensive area.

Football Medals

• Gold – Ghana
• Silver – Uganda
• Bronze – Senegal

The long-awaited FUFA Drum final will see Busoga Province take on Lango Province at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo on Saturday, March 22, 2024.

Busoga Province started the fourth edition against Karamoja in a double leg and the former secured both the home and away wins.

At the group stage, Busoga was pitted in group C alongside Bugisu Province and West Nile Province.

Busoga faced Bugisu in the opening group duel and the sides shared spoils in a goalless draw in the first leg before a one-all draw.

Busoga later thrashed the defending champions in a 4-1 victory before they concluded the group with a 2-1 loss to West Nile.

After a cold and warm journey in the group stage, they qualified for the quarterfinals with five points setting a date with Tooro.

In the first leg, Busoga registered a 3-1 victory in Kamuli thanks to Ibrahim Mugulusi, Reagan Kalyowa and Isaac Wagoina.

But the story was different in Fort Portal as they lost to Tooro on the same scoreline before they held their nerves to win in the spot kicks.

At the semifinal stage, Busoga locked horns with Teso Province and they came out victorious in both legs with a 3-1 aggregate score.

Lango Province will play the FUFA Drum final for the second time in a row having lost to West Nile Province in the previous campaign.

This time round they will be taking on Busoga Province in the final slated for Saturday, March 23 at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.

Lango began their course with Kigezi and Kampala Provinces at the group stage.

In the first group game, they beat Kigezi Province 1-0 away before picking yet another 2-1 win against Kampala Province in front of their home crowd.

In the returning legs, they easily went past Kigezi in a 3-0 victory before sharing spoils with Kampala in a one-all draw.

As they rolled into the last eight, they secured a 2-0 victory against Acholi away from home before they sealed the tie with a one-all draw.

It was a sweet revenge in the semifinals as they took on West Nile a side to which they lost in the last edition’s final.

Lango managed a 2-0 victory at home thanks to Denis Omedi’s brace before they fell to West Nile away from home in a 1-0 loss.

• African Games 2023 | Results
• Uganda 0(6)-0(5) Senegal 

Uganda U-20 Women’s Team (Queen Cranes) went past Senegal to clinch Bronze in the ongoing African Games happening in Ghana.

In a game played at the Cape Coast Stadium, the two sides failed to find the back of the net in normal time before they were separated after a penalty shootout.

To reach this level, Uganda lost to Nigeria 2-0 in the semifinals before they set up a date with Senegal in the classification game.

Senegal had more control of the game and even missed to convert a penalty in normal time before they fell to the hands of Queen Cranes.

Catherine Nagadya, Shamira Nalugya, Shakirah Nankwanga, Harima Kanyago, Catherine Wujja and Shamusa Najjuma converted from the spot as Uganda one.

While only Dorcus Lwalisa witnessed her effort bounce off the frame in Uganda’s miss.

Uganda will now back the Hippos who have a chance to clinch Gold in the final they play against host, Ghana on Friday.

• University Football League – Results
• MUBS 1-1 UCU

Uganda Christian University (UCU) Cardinals fought from a goal down to hold Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in the first leg of the ongoing University Football League semi-finals in Nakawa on Thursday.

It was an electric start as Sudhir Bin Saidi opened the scoring with a low powerful effort past Collins Wesonga into the back of the net in the first minute.

In the 10th minute, UCU nearly found a leveller as Innocent Zziwa nearly scored in his net after he fully stretched to connect with Peter Kyomuhendo’s delivery.

At half an hour mark, Allan Opio failed to bury a cut-clear chance after he was set up by Isaac Ofoyrwoth in front of goal.

With five minutes left in the first stanza, Kyomuhendo’s freekick gave MUBS trouble before Talibu Yokole made a swift clearance from the area.

Six minutes into the second stanza, MUBS came close through Yokole’s curling freekick but Gaganga was in the right place to make a timely clearance.

In the 58th minute, Derrick Tenywa failed to guide the ball into the empty net as the ball got locked in his feet before Marvin Ategeka cleared his lines.

Four minutes later, Gaganga levelled matters with a powerful effort as MUBS custodian Innocent Ayebale remained frozen in his cylinder.

Centre referee Henry Musisi denied UCU a clear penalty after Harry Abitti was tripped in the dangerous area with 10 minutes to play.

The visitors had several chances in the dying minutes to kill the game but were very wasteful leaving the second leg open for either side.

The two sides will meet on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Mukono for the second leg.

How they lined up

MUBS XI: Innocent Ayebale (GK), Thomas Lasu, Innocent Zziwa, Marvin Ategeka, James Junior Wogute, Talibu Yokole, Sudhir Bin Saidi, Moses Kasinga, Stuart Magumba, Justine Odong, Derrick Otuke

UCU XI: Wesonga Collins (XI), Karim Busobozi, Patrick Ogola, Sharif Ssewanyana, Godfrey Arijole, Solomon Maiso, Isaac Ofoyrwoth, Peter Kyomuhendo, Harry Abiti, Allan Opio, Godfrey Gaganga