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IVAN MINNAERT'S MAGIC: VIPERS' NEWFOUND CLARITY IS LEAGUE'S BIGGEST THREAT
Vipers SC are in scorching form and a win against Nec FC could temporarily send them top of the Uganda Premier League. Minnaert's tactical plan is working.
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Minnaert’s plan for the Venoms seems to be working. They’re playing with more clarity, moving the ball quickly, combining well, and attacking open space with ease.
Vipers come to Lugogo on Friday looking like a team at the top of their game. They’re playing with power and precision, ready to compete for the championship.
The current champions have won against Entebbe UPPC, Maroons, Express, UPDF, and KCCA. The only points they dropped were in a tough 1–1 tie with SC Villa. Now, they’ve climbed to fourth place with 16 points from six games.
A win against NEC could put Ivan Minnaert’s team at the top of the Uganda Premier League, at least for a day. After that, KCCA (17 points) will play Bul on Sunday, and SC Villa (17 points) will visit Maroons.
There’s a feeling of excitement around tonight’s game at the MTN Omondi Stadium-Lugogo. Vipers are in great form, while NEC is still getting used to their new coach, Badru Kaddu.
NEC is currently ninth with 10 points from eight games. Their performance has been up and down, with only one win in their last four games. But they have the potential to surprise Vipers, who need to be careful despite their strong form.
Minnaert’s plan is starting to pay off. The Venoms are playing with growing clarity, transitioning quickly, combining well, and taking full advantage of space.
Their recent 5–1 win against UPDF felt like a sign that the team is finally working together. Gusto Mulongo scored twice, Robin Kane hit a long-range shot, Milton Karisa finished instinctively, and Allan Okello showed his playmaking skills. This shows how much offensive talent the Vipers have.
With Usama Arafat’s movement and Yunus Sentamu’s scoring ability, Minnaert has one of the best forward lines in the league.
Nec’s challenge tonight is as much mental as it is physical. Kaddu has suggested they’re improving, praising the team’s play and highlighting players like Marvin Kavuma, who scored against Maroons and continues to lead NEC’s attack.
I see my players improving and playing better. We still need to score more. Our goal is to compete, so we need to be better against the Vipers. I hope Marvin can help us again as we try to reach the top, Kaddu said after the 1-1 draw with Maroons on Saturday.
But to stop Vipers, Nec needs to be stronger defensively, avoid mistakes, and be quick in transition.
Recent games between these teams have been mixed. In the last four matches, Vipers have won twice, there has been one draw, and NEC has won once. This shows that either team can win if things go their way.
NEC’s best chance is to frustrate Vipers early, keep Okello from controlling the game, and strike on the counter with forwards like Kavuma, Paul Mucureezi, Cromwell Rwothomio, and Charles Waibi.
Earlier, at the Bombo Barracks, Paul Kiwanuka's UPDF, third from the bottom with six points from eight matches, will play Lugazi, who are tenth with nine points from as many games.
HISTORY MADE: WHY UGANDA CRANES USED THREE GOALKEEPERS IN A SINGLE AFCON NIGHTMARE
Uganda’s AFCON run ends in a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria. The Cranes used three goalkeepers in a match that saw Salim Magoola sent off.
Uganda's run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is over after a tough 3-1 loss to Nigeria. They didn't win a single game and are out after the group stage. Nigeria finished top of Group C with 9 points, while Uganda ended up last with only 1 point. Uganda had trouble scoring and let in the most goals, showing they still have a ways to go.
Nigeria came out strong, keeping Uganda pinned back. Their pressure paid off when Paul Onuachu scored in the 28th minute after a great pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, putting Nigeria ahead.
Uganda couldn't get into the game and barely created any chances. Karl Uche Ikpeazu was isolated up front. They wasted several set-piece opportunities, and captain Denis Onyango had to make a bunch of saves. He even needed treatment a few times before being subbed out at halftime.
Things got worse in the 57th minute when Onyango's replacement, Salim Jamal Magoola, got a red card for handling the ball outside the box while trying to stop Victor Osimhen. Uganda was down to ten men.
Nafian Alionzi came in, making Uganda the first team in the tournament to use three goalkeepers in one game.
Nigeria took advantage of the situation, and Raphael Onyedika scored twice in the 62nd and 66th minutes, making it 3-0. Game over for Uganda.
Uganda managed to pull one back in the 75th minute when Rogers Kassim Mato scored after a nice play with Allan Okello. It got the 11,545 fans excited, but Nigeria just slowed the game down and won easily.
With this win, Nigeria finished Group C undefeated. Uganda finished last, having let in the most goals in the group.
In the other game, Tanzania drew 1-1 with Tunisia. This meant that both teams, along with Nigeria, moved on. Tanzania made it to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Uganda lost 3-1 to Tunisia, drew 1-1 with Tanzania, and lost 3-1 to Nigeria. They're still waiting for their first-ever win in the AFCON finals.
For head coach Joseph Paul Put, the tournament had some good moments, but it also showed that Uganda needs to be more consistent, disciplined, and clinical to compete at the highest level.
TUESDAY PREVIEW: PAUL PUT PREPARES UGANDA FOR DECISIVE FINAL AFCON GROUP CLASH
Uganda must beat Nigeria to reach the AFCON 2025 knockouts. Discover Paul Put’s strategy and Jordan Obita’s call for belief in Fes.
Paul Put's team is heading to Stade de Fes, aiming for a win. This victory could get them into the round of 16 either as Group C's second-place team or as one of the top four third-place teams in the 24-team contest.
"We're up against a really good team," Put said. They were in the final at the last Cup of Nations, and they've won both matches here in Morocco.
We know how good the Nigerian players are. A lot of them play in big leagues in Europe, so we need to be super focused.
But we know what's at stake. It won't be easy; it will be tough. But if we put in the effort, anything's possible.
Tunisia is playing Tanzania in Rabat on Tuesday night. They beat Uganda 3-1 in their first game on December 23.
In their second game, Uganda drew 1-1 with Tanzania after Allan Okello missed a late penalty.
"We had a great chance to win," said Uganda defender Jordan Obita. But it didn't happen.
We can't be scared of going into the Nigeria game. We have to believe we can do something, and that's what we're going to do.
Uganda reached the last 16 in 2019 in Egypt—the first time the Africa Cup of Nations had 24 teams.
But the country's teams didn't make it into the competitions in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire after that.
In 2027, Uganda will host the event with Kenya and Uganda. Obita mentioned that the players in the Uganda team want to show what they're made of at the 2025 contest.
"Everyone back home in Uganda needs to see that we can compete with the best countries in the world," said the 32-year-old, who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
When we played Algeria in the World Cup qualifiers, it showed we can go head-to-head with top-tier countries and players.
Nigeria's coach, Eric Chelle, was secretive on Monday about who would be on his team Tuesday night.
"I'm keeping my plans to myself," said the 48-year-old former Mali player. A lot of players deserve a chance on this team.
I make hard choices for every match. I've got two or three teams in mind.
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