Report: NEC 1-0 UPDF

by Kayungirizi

March 4, 2026

Match Report

We secured a hard-earned three points with a 1-0 victory over UPDF at the Phillip Omondi Stadium, thanks to a decisive second-half strike from substitute Ronald Media Innocent. In a match that tested our resilience against a determined relegation-threatened side, Badru Kaddu’s men made sure we climb to 27 points in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League standings closing in on the six placed Police FC.

What Happened

The encounter began cautiously, with both teams sizing each other up in a tense first half. We struggled to find the rhythm early on, missing even an early chance as Kagawa couldn’t beat the goalkeeper in a 1v1 to give us the lead. UPDF, desperate for points in their fight for survival, defended resolutely and looked to hit on the counter, but clear-cut chances were few and far between. The turning point came after the interval as Kaddu rang the changes, introducing Emmanuel Kulanga, Pius Obuya, and Media Innocent – the latter replacing new signing Samuel Kayongo Ssekamatte. The fresh legs injected energy into our attack, and it paid off when Media Innocent latched onto a well-worked move to fire home the winner. From there, NEC managed the game professionally, as tutored by KB; holding firm against UPDF’s late pressure to seal a vital clean sheet.

This result marks another step forward for our, as we have shown character in grinding out results even without a full-strength squad. For UPDF, the defeat leaves them rooted in 15th place with just 12 points, intensifying their battle at the bottom.

The Boss’ View

Head coach Badru Kaddu was full of praise for his bench players post-match, highlighting their role in turning the tide. “The first half was not good, but the second half, after changes, the boys who came in performed well and got the result,” he said. “We have a good squad, even if you lose one player, others can step up. The players on the bench did a good job, and I thank them for the work.