Nkumba University crush ISBAT 5-0 to top UFL Group A

Defending champions Nkumba University delivered a dominant performance on Tuesday, thrashing ISBAT University 5-0 at Kanyanya Grounds in Kawempe to move to the top of Group A in the Pepsi University Football League.

The emphatic victory also bolstered their chances of securing a spot in the quarterfinals.

From the opening whistle, Nkumba asserted their dominance, racing to a 3-0 lead within the first 21 minutes. Abbey Kavuma opened the scoring in the 15th minute, followed by quickfire goals from Saadi Mukiibi in the 17th minute and Ismail Lubega in the 20th minute. Nkumba capitalized on ISBAT’s defensive errors to establish a commanding lead early in the game.

Despite being the home side, ISBAT struggled to cope with Nkumba’s pace and intensity. They failed to register a single shot on target in the first 30 minutes, and their woes deepened in the 32nd minute when Marvin Kagimu added a fourth goal, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Nkumba went into halftime with a comfortable 4-0 lead. Although they eased off in the second half, substitute Joshua Komori struck in the 73rd minute to complete the rout. Nkumba had several opportunities to extend their lead further but were wasteful in the closing stages.

This victory marked Nkumba’s third win of the campaign and their second consecutive triumph, following a 2-1 victory over Busitema University last week in Entebbe. With 10 points from five matches, Nkumba now leads Group A.

Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) dropped to second place with eight points but have a game in hand against third-placed Busitema University, who sit on six points. Nkumba’s final group-stage match will be against IUIU in Entebbe, a crucial fixture likely to determine the group winner.

Ismail Lubega, who scored directly from a corner, expressed confidence in his team’s campaign, stating that their early struggles motivated them to improve in the second round.

“After a tough first round, we made a commitment to step up our game. Our target was to win all three second-round matches, and so far, we’ve won two. I’m confident we’ll defeat IUIU and secure our place in the quarterfinals,” Lubega said.

Meanwhile, ISBAT remains rooted at the bottom of the group with just one point from five matches and has been eliminated from the competition. Their final fixture will be an away clash against Busitema University in Busia.

This season, the league features six groups, with only the top team from each group earning a direct spot in the quarterfinals. They will be joined by the two best second-placed teams to complete the last-eight lineup.

Nkumba’s dominant display against ISBAT has sent a strong message to their rivals as they aim to defend their title and continue their impressive run in the competition.