Derrick Nsibambi stands tall for KCCA FC

CAF Confederation Cup

Group A

KCCA 2 Rivers United 1

FUS Rabat 2 Club Africain 1
 
KCCA remaining matches

June 20 Rivers Utd v KCCA

June 30  KCCA v FUS Rabat

July 8 Club Africain v KCCA

When Geoffrey Sserunkuma's goals stopped coming there were fears at Lugogo that KCCA was doomed.

The Cranes striker had been worth a goal per match both on the local and continental scene.

Then just when Mike Mutebi's side was about to be written off, Derrick Nsibambi stepped forward.

The 22-year-old has more than made up for Sserunkuma's slump with goals in almost every KCCA outing over the past month.

He finished the Azam Uganda Premier league with seven goals and tops the 2017 Uganda Cup scorers' charts also with seven goals.

Nsibambi's form was clearly evident again on Saturday as he got a brace in KCCA's 2-1 win over Nigeria's Rivers United.

The lanky striker is not only lethal with his legs but also his head.

He seemed to defy gravity in KCCA's previous CAF Confederations Cup match against Club Africain as he nodded in the equalizer.

He has on the continental scene made a bigger statement scoring four goals in four matches. Amongst these is the memorable 94 minute winner in the Lugogo playoff against El Masry.

After Saturday's match coach Mike Mutebi was all praises for the striker. "He is a fast emerging center forward with a very bright future if he remains focused."

The win put KCCA second in group A with six points from three games. FUS Rabat of Morocco also has six but with a better goal difference.

A good result in their next match on June 20 against Rivers in Nigeria followed by a win in their last home game against FUS Rabat will guarantee KCCA a quarter final slot.

Nsibambi opened the score in the 15th minute after a turn past Rivers United defenders.

Rivers bounced back through Sakin Bolaji's equalizer in the 33th minute before Nsibambi gave KCCA a lead again when a controlled Tom Masiko's cross then fired past  goalkeeper Akande Abiodun in the 70th minute.

Abiodun had earlier come in as substitute for Thomas  Femi  who had been taken out after 25 minutes of play  after sustaining an injury.

But Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma feels their hope of qualifying to the quarterfinals, they need to win their next game.

"We have to go back and correct our mistakes and come back strong in our next game. We came to win although we didn't play the approach we were supposed to.  We congregate KCCA for their efforts it's a good team,"said Eguma.

KCCA is in group A alongside FUS Rabat (Morocco), Club Africain (Tunisia) and Rivers United (Nigeria).The top-two teams in the group stages will qualify for the quarterfinals.