Clash of Titans: Vipers, SC Villa lock horns for Uganda Cup semi-final slot

Photo by Vipers SC media.

Table-topping Vipers SC will momentarily shift focus from their Uganda Premier League title charge as they welcome record league champions SC Villa in a blockbuster Stanbic Uganda Cup Quarterfinal showdown on Monday at St Mary’s stadium, Kitende.

This highly anticipated clash brings together two of Uganda’s biggest football powerhouses, with both sides eyeing a place in the semifinals of the country’s most prestigious knockout tournament.

Vipers, who are on course to dethrone SC Villa in the league this season will be looking to land a double blow by also knocking the Jogoos out of cup contention effectively ending their hopes of silverware for the 2024/25 campaign.

The sides have already exchanged blows this season in the league, with Vipers securing a 2-1 victory at Kitende, before SC Villa exacted revenge with a narrow 1-0 win in the return leg at Wankulukuku under coach Morley Byekwaso.

But cup football is a different battleground. The last time these two met in the Uganda Cup was back in 2018, when Vipers edged Villa 1-0 on aggregate across two tense semifinal legs. That memory will still sting for the Jogoos, who are chasing their first Uganda Cup crown since 2015, when they famously beat KCCA FC 3-0 in a final replay at Namboole after crowd trouble in Ntungamo had marred the original match.

Vipers, meanwhile, are dreaming of another historic double, similar to their 2022/23 success when they clinched both the league and Uganda Cup titles. Team news suggests both sides will have to deal with some key absences.

Vipers SC could be without left-back Enock Luyima, who was stretchered off during their recent victory over NEC FC. SC Villa, on the other hand are sweating over the fitness of Ronald Ssekiganda and Cyrus Kibande, both nursing injuries.

Elsewhere in the competition, KCCA FC and Kitara FC have already punched their tickets to the semifinals after knocking out Kaaro Karungi and BUL FC, respectively. The winner between Vipers and SC Villa will join them in the final four, as the battle for cup glory intensifies.