Friday, September 11
•Mbarara City Vs NEC FC – Kamwenge, 4pm
NEC FC will be aiming to maintain their perfect start to the 2026/27 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season when they visit Mbarara City FC on Friday at Rwamwanja Stadium in Kamwenge.
The Diehards have made an impressive start to the campaign, collecting maximum points from their opening two matches. They began with a 2-0 victory over KCCA FC in the Lugogo derby before following it up with a 3-1 win against Lugazi FC at home.
The two victories have given NEC FC six points and early momentum at the top end of the table, with the side now targeting a third consecutive victory.
Mbarara City, meanwhile, will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they take on the league leaders. The Ankole Lions were beaten 1-0 by Police FC in their only outing so far and will hope to pick up their first points of the season against the leaders.
Their Matchday 2 fixture against Kitara FC was postponed due to Kitara’s continental engagements, leaving Mbarara City with a game in hand heading into Friday’s encounter.
NEC FC head coach Kaddu Badru Mukasa says his team is prepared to face another challenger and is determined to put up a strong performance.
“We have a motive of going against any challenger and we shall put up a good show against Mbarara City,” Mukasa said ahead of the match.
NEC FC will, however, have to contend with several absences. Forward Fahad Bayo continues to recover from a muscle strain and has resumed light training, while defender Ibrahim Musa remains in rehabilitation after suffering a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
Richard Basangwa is also unavailable due to injury.
Defender Hakim Wandera and goalkeeper Gilbert Mazige will miss the trip because of national team commitments, with the pair currently with the Uganda U20 team preparing for the AFCON U20 CECAFA qualifiers.
There is some positive news for the Diehards, with Muhammed Kagawa Ssenoga returning to full availability and back in contention for selection. The rest of the squad is in good shape ahead of the trip to Kamwenge.
NEC FC will also draw confidence from their dominant record against Mbarara City. Friday’s fixture will be the seventh meeting between the two sides in the Uganda Premier League, with the Diehards having won all six previous encounters.
That record gives NEC FC another incentive to extend their winning run and maintain their perfect start to the season, although Mbarara City will be determined to upset the league leaders and register their first points of the campaign.
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