Fans find excitement in the Stanbic Uganda Cup through its breathtaking matches and stunning upsets paired with high-intensity performances. During the Round of 64 the competition intensified as teams fought hard to secure their position in the following stage. In this edition, fans experienced stunning eliminations, nail-biting penalty shootouts, and goal-rich matches that kept them in suspense throughout. The tournament maintains its position as Uganda’s most exciting football competition through a combination of surprising results and commanding performances.

Intense Competition and Dramatic Moments

The competition level was notably high, with top-tier teams striving to avoid early upsets. Despite their efforts, eight FUFA Big League clubs and one top-flight side, Mbale Heroes, were eliminated at this stage. The early rounds of the Stanbic Uganda Cup are always unpredictable, and this edition was no exception.

The round featured 30 thrilling matches, while two games—Bushenyi Veterans vs. Onduparaka and Soroti Thunders vs. Blacks Power—were not played due to logistical issues. The latter match was particularly dramatic, as Blacks Power arrived at the designated venue, while Soroti Thunders turned up at a different location. Such disorganization added a layer of controversy and frustration for fans and players alike, demonstrating some of the challenges that lower-tier teams face in the competition.

Goal-Filled Action

The round culminated in 68 goals with UPDF defeating New Life Katereke 4-2 in the match that resulted in the highest number of goals scored. This match served as an outstanding demonstration of attacking football performed at its optimal level. The tournament featured a significant upset when Simba defeated Mbale Heroes 3-2 despite being top-flight competitors and former 1996 champions who were eliminated. Such results prove that no team is safe in this knockout competition.

Current title holders, Kitara, and last year’s finalists, NEC, secured commanding 4-0 victories over Young Simba and UCU (Mbale), respectively. Other dominant wins included:

• Maroons (3-0) Water FC
• SC Villa (3-0) Seeta United
• Packwach Young Stars (3-0) Kigezi Home Boyz
• CATDA (3-0) Mawokota United

These one-sided victories demonstrated the gulf in class between some of the competitors, with top-tier teams asserting their dominance against lower-league opposition.

Tense Penalty Shootouts

The unpredictability of the Uganda Cup was further emphasized by five matches that had to be decided via penalty shootouts after normal time ended in stalemates. These nerve-wracking moments added to the tournament’s intensity:

• Busia Young Stars (5)1-1(4) Kiyinda Boyz
• Karuguza United (4)1-1(5) Kaaro Karungi
• Kalongo United (Agago) (1)1-1(2) URA
• Junior Eagles (Soroti) (3)0-0(5) Mbarara City
• Iganga Young (4)0-0(5) Bright Stars

The tournament’s knockout format ensures that teams must be mentally and physically prepared for penalty drama, and these results demonstrated how crucial goalkeeping and composure under pressure can be.

The Importance of the Stanbic Uganda Cup

The Stanbic Uganda Cup stands as one of Uganda’s most prestigious football tournaments. This tournament was created to advance football throughout its various levels and gives small teams the chance to face off against elite clubs. This aspect makes the tournament unpredictable and full of surprises.

Securing the Stanbic Uganda Cup brings national recognition to the winning team and secures their entry into the CAF Confederation Cup for continental competition. This has significantly increased the stakes, pushing teams to give their best performances. For many clubs, this tournament is their best chance to showcase their abilities on a larger platform and potentially attract sponsors or transfers to bigger clubs.

Emerging Stars and Top Performers

This edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup has also showcased incredible talent, with young players making a name for themselves. Clubs from different regions have displayed immense resilience, with several players catching the eyes of scouts and football analysts. Among them, goal-scorers from lesser-known teams proved that they have what it takes to compete at a higher level.

The tournament also highlighted some of the best goalkeepers, as several matches required penalty shootouts to determine winners. The composure and skill exhibited in these high-pressure moments played a crucial role in deciding which teams advanced to the next stage. Expect some of these emerging stars to make their way into top Ugandan Premier League clubs in the near future.

Upcoming Round of 32 Draw

The FUFA Competitions Department is set to announce the draw for the Round of 32 soon. The winner of the Stanbic Uganda Cup secures a prestigious CAF Confederation Cup qualification spot, adding more stakes to the already fierce competition. With the stakes rising, expect more drama, intense encounters, and unexpected results as teams aim to progress further in the tournament.

Full Stanbic Uganda Cup Round of 64 Results

High-Scoring Encounters:

• New Life Katereke 2-4 UPDF
• Young Simba 0-4 Kitara
• UCU (Mbale) 0-4 NEC

Comfortable Wins:

• Water FC 0-3 Maroons
• Seeta United 0-3 SC Villa
• Packwach Young Stars 3-0 Kigezi Home Boyz
• Mawokota United 0-3 CATDA

Close Contests:

• Simba 3-2 Mbale Heroes
• Tepa 1-2 Vipers
• Football Classroom 1-2 Buhimba United Saints
• Rwenzori Lions 2-1 Busoga United
• Pajule Lions 1-2 Gaddafi

Surprising Eliminations:

• Kuluva RainBow (Arua) 2-0 MYDA
• Total FC (Yumbe) 2-0 Arua Hill
• Mayuge United 0-2 Lugazi
• Kisoro Young Simba 0-2 Kataka

Top Clubs Prevail:

• 403 Brigade (Napak) 0-2 KCCA
• Ondramacaku (Arua) 2-0 Paidha Black Angels
• Garuga Stars 0-1 BUL
• Kalandari 0-1 Police
• Mbarara 0-1 Wakiso Giants

Hard-Fought Wins:

• Mabira Town Council (Kasese) 1-0 Ntugasaze
• Bugoigo Leopards 1-0 Booma
• Red Devo 0-1 Express
• Rwampara Bulls 0-1 Calvary

Penalty Shootout Results:

• Busia Young Stars (5)1-1(4) Kiyinda Boyz
• Karuguza United (4)1-1(5) Kaaro Karungi
• Kalongo United (Agago) (1)1-1(2) URA
• Junior Eagles (Soroti) (3)0-0(5) Mbarara City
• Iganga Young (4) 0-0 (5) Bright Stars

Unplayed Matches:

• Bushenyi Veterans vs. Onduparaka (Not Played)
• Soroti Thunders vs. Blacks Power (Not Played)

Looking Ahead: What’s Next in the Stanbic Uganda Cup?

Now that the Round of 64 has concluded the competition reaches a heightened level of intensity as teams move toward the Round of 32.Who will advance? Which team will emerge as the tournament’s dark horse? Stay tuned for more action, results, and surprises in the Stanbic Uganda Cup!

Want to stay updated? Follow the latest Stanbic Uganda Cup news, match previews, and results as the competition unfolds!