What a night for the Diehards!
Last evening our boys in green and black produced one of those performances that make you proud to be part of this organisation. Facing the defending champions SC Villa in the FUFA Super 8 semi-final, NEC FC went a goal down inside the first minute and still found a way to turn the game around, winning 3-1 and booking a place in the final against KCCA.
Before the match we also had the opportunity to honour the late former SC Villa captain David Owori, who was recently taken from us. It was a moment of respect shared across the football family, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected by his loss.
Villa scored early through Najib Yiga. For the rest of the first half it was tough going. We stayed in the contest but couldn’t quite find the breakthrough. At half-time the score was still 1-0.
Then the response came. Coach Badru Kaddu made changes straight away, bringing on Enrique Lubwama and Innocent Media. That was the turning point. Lubwama stepped into midfield and immediately became the link between defence and attack; calm on the ball, always available, helping the team push higher and keep the pressure on. You could see the difference almost at once.
In the 55th minute Wandera put in a superb cross. The Villa keeper punched it clear, but Richard Basangwa was the quickest to react. He put the rebound straight into the net. 1-1. Pure sharp thinking from Basangwa.
Five minutes later Wandera was at it again, this time with a dangerous corner. The ball ended up in Villa’s own net by themselves and we were 2-1 up. Those two deliveries from Wandera changed everything.
From there the substitutes kept driving us forward. Lubwama continued to stitch the play together, Media who narrowly twice stayed sharp up front, and late on, when Villa pushed everyone forward, Media stayed cool, and just a minute to end the game, Ssebwalunnto launched a ball foward and this was his time. Media rounded the keeper and finished into an empty net. 3-1. Job done.
This was a real team effort, the starting players who dug in when things were difficult, the substitutes who came on and lifted the intensity, and the whole squad showing that die-hard spirit we talk about. Captain Hannington Ssebwalunyo said it best afterwards: we keep fighting until the final whistle.
We shall now be facing KCCA FC in the final on Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 7pm at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo. Another big occasion for the club and for all of us who support it.
This is more than just a football result. It’s a reminder of what resilience, smart adjustments and collective effort can achieve. The boys have given us a final to look forward to, and they’ve done it the hard way.
Well done to the entire technical team, the players, and everyone behind the scenes who supports the club day in and day out.
On to the final. Let’s storm Hamz and bring this one home.