Rogers Mato stars in Vardar’s conference league win as Dembe impresses for BK Häcken

After playing a key role in FK Vardar’s Macedonia Cup triumph last season, Uganda Cranes forward Rogers Mato has continued his rise by making a strong impression on the European stage.

Vardar’s domestic success secured them a place in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers—a major milestone that sparked excitement among Ugandan football fans.

On Thursday, July 10, Vardar began their European campaign with a home fixture against San Marino’s La Fiorita. Mato started the match on the bench as the opening half ended goalless, but the game shifted quickly after the break.

The Ugandan forward was introduced at the start of the second half, and almost immediately, the hosts found their rhythm. Azer Omeragikj opened the scoring in the 47th minute, giving Vardar a deserved lead.

Their advantage doubled in the 66th minute when La Fiorita’s Mirko Drudi turned the ball into his own net under pressure from a surging Vardar attack.

Just moments later, Mato capped off a dominant performance with a brilliant strike. Picking up the ball at the edge of the box, he unleashed a precise shot into the bottom left corner, beating goalkeeper Matteo Zavoli and sealing a 3-0 victory in the first leg.

Vardar now take a commanding lead into the return leg in San Marino, well-positioned to progress to the next round of the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, another Ugandan international made his presence felt. John Paul Dembe started for Swedish side BK Häcken and featured for 60 minutes before making way for Srdjan Hrstic.

Just three minutes after Dembe’s substitution, Häcken broke the deadlock through Severin Nioulé in the 63rd minute. The hosts thought they had found an equalizer late in the match when Cedric Badolo found the back of the net in the 85th minute, but VAR ruled it out.

It was a promising night for Ugandan talent across Europe, with both Mato and Dembe showcasing their quality on the continental stage.