University Football League: SLAU, IUIU share spoils in semi-final first leg

Pepsi University Football League
Semi-final First Leg
IUIU 1-1 SLAU

The first leg of the Pepsi University Football League (UFL) semifinal clash between Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and St. Lawrence University ended in a 1-1 draw at the Kayembe grounds on Thursday afternoon.

St. Lawrence University entered the match hoping to change the tide after losing in the final twice, in 2019 and 2022.

The visitors started brightly and took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to a well-placed header from Ssekyanzi Patrick, who rose above the defense to meet a cross from Matege Innocent.

Despite conceding the goal, IUIU responded quickly. In the 40th minute, they equalized when Otim Calvin took advantage of a defensive error from St. Lawrence. Mugambe Faraji’s cross was poorly cleared, allowing Otim to slot the ball home.

The equalizer came at a crucial moment, giving IUIU the momentum going into halftime. The match was now 1-1, with everything to play for in the second half.

The second half saw both teams continue to battle it out. IUIU created several chances, and in the 55th minute, Shikanga had a great opportunity to put the hosts ahead, but his shot was blocked by St. Lawrence’s defense.

Despite IUIU’s pressure, St. Lawrence remained solid, and they too had their moments to break the deadlock. Mugambe’s close-range shot for IUIU was blocked by St. Lawrence goalkeeper Agaku as the game remained tied.

As the game progressed, both teams pushed for a winner, but neither was able to find the back of the net. The final whistle blew with the score still at 1-1, leaving everything to be decided in the return leg next Thursday. The result means that both teams have an equal chance of progressing to the final.

St. Lawrence’s coach, Davis Nnono, remained upbeat after the game. “We played well today, but the job is not done. We have to finish strong at home. The return leg will be a different game, and we are ready for the challenge,” he said.

On the other hand, IUIU’s Coach Sadat Musasizi who made his return after serving a suspension for a red card in the quarterfinals. “We stayed strong and fought back, and now we have a good chance in the return leg,” he said.

With the score tied, the attention now turns to the return leg in Kavule next Thursday, where St. Lawrence will aim to use their home advantage to secure a spot in the final, while IUIU will be looking to pull off an upset and reach the championship match for the first time.

In the other semifinal, Uganda Martyrs University will face Bugema University, though there is controversy surrounding the match after Muteesa 1 Royal University appealed a 3-0 loss to Bugema. The latter had walked off the pitch during a tied game on March 24, 2025, after a dispute, and the UFL Disciplinary Committee awarded Bugema the victory.