CAF Champions League – 1st Round
KCCA FC vs Petro de Luanda (Agg: 0-0)
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Friday, 27-09-2019 @4pm
LUGOGO – KCCA FC will be hoping to utilize home advantage so as to progress into the CAF Champions League group stages.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg away to Petro de Luanda, the Kasasiros have a chance to get the job done at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo on Friday afternoon.
Last season, KCCA FC had a disappointing continental campaign, failing to reach the group stages of the confederations cup.
Having received a bye in the preliminary stages, Mike Mutebi’s side took care of Tanzania’s Mtibwa Sugar 5-1 on aggregate to reach the playoff round.
In the playoffs, KCCA would however fall to Congo’s Otoho Doyo. Having lost 3-0 in the first leg, Mutebi’s side won the second 2-0, losing 3-2 on aggregate in the end.
In the Champions League, KCCA FC’s last appearance came in 2018 when they reached the lucrative group stages of the competition.
In the initial stages, they eliminated CNaPS and Kedus Giorgis in the preliminary and first-round respectively.
However, they were overpowered by Al Ahly and Esperance in Group A, finishing third and bowing out.
To get to the first round this season, KCCA eliminated African Stars 2-0 on aggregate.
For Mike Mutebi, this is a chance to become the first Ugandan manager to lead a side into two Champions League group stages but he is certain it will not be easy.
“We may have an advantage of playing at home but I expect a tricky contest, noted Mutebi at the pre-match press conference.
“I am sure everyone will experience a very good game of football as we come up against a side that uses the ball very well and always play on the front foot.
“With all that said, I believe we have enough to win the contest.”
KCCA FC’s consistent participation in continental engagements is seen as an advantage going into the game. Ask whether this is true, the gaffer had this to say;
“It helps that we have been playing on the continent consistently. However, Angolan opposition has always given us problems and it will be interesting to see how this turns out.”
This will be the second time the Kasasiros come up against Angolan opposition in the Champions League.
The first came in a preliminary round doubleheader in 2017, one that Mutebi’s side won via the away goals rule after losing 2-1 in Angola and then winning the return leg 1-0.
KCCA FC have been boosted by the return of Steven Sserwadda and Sadat Anaku. The duo along with assistant coach Morley Byekwaso are with the U20 national team that is currently taking part in the CECAFA U20 Championships in Gulu and Njeru. Defensive midfielder Nicholas Kasozi and winger Simon Serunkuma also return from injury. However, Jurua Hassan, Julius Poloto and Sadam Juma are out injured. John Revita, John Odumegwu, Keziron Kizito and Erisa Sekisambu are not eligible to play for KCCA FC at this round.
For Petro de Luanda, they are currently taking part in their first champions league campaign since 2010.
They defeated Lesotho’s Matlama 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round following two 2-0 victories in both the first and second legs.
Match Facts
This will be Mike Mutebi’s 30th continental game managing KCCA FC.
Among those 30 games, KCCA has won 13 games, lost 13 and drawn 3.
KCCA heads into the game having won just three of their last 9 champions league encounters (D1 L5).
However, at home, the Kasasiros have lost only one of their last 9 games (W7 D1).
For Petro, they head into the contest having lost just once in their last 9 champions league games (W6 D2).
Away from home, the Angolan side have won three and lost as many in their last 8 with the other two all ending in draws.
This will be the first time the two clubs meet on the continent.
