SC Villa’s Kagame Cup Hopes Hang by a Thread

Despite an unbeaten run in their three group games, SC Villa’s journey in the 2024 Kagame Cup faces a precarious fate following a 1-1 draw against Rwanda’s champions, APR, in their final group match. A win in this game would have secured the Jogoos an automatic spot in the semi-finals, but they fell short, leaving their progression dependent on the outcomes of other matches.

APR took an early lead through Olivier Dushimimana, putting SC Villa on the back foot. However, Najib Yiga equalized for Villa, maintaining their unbeaten record. Despite this, the absence of key players Ronald Ssekiganda, Charles Lwanga, Reagan Mpande, and Misi Diego Ssemugera was evident. The team pushed hard for a winning goal, but APR, led by Taddeo Lwanga, held firm.

The draw leaves SC Villa with 5 points, two behind APR, who advance to the semi-finals as the winners of Group C.

Group A and B Dynamics

In Group A, Somalia’s Dekedaha pulled off a surprising comeback to defeat Zanzibar’s JKU 2-1, earning their first points of the tournament despite their elimination. Al Wadi of Sudan also drew 1-1 with Coastal Union, further impacting the group dynamics.

Villa’s fate now hinges on the match between Zambia’s Red Arrows and Djibouti’s ASAS Telecom in Group B. For SC Villa to progress to the semi-finals, they need ASAS Telecom to either hold or defeat Red Arrows. If Red Arrows win, Villa’s journey in the 2024 Kagame Cup will come to an early end despite their undefeated run in the group stage.

Other Key Results

• Singida Black Stars 3-1 El Merriekh Bentiu [Group C]: Singida Black Stars secured a convincing win against El Merriekh Bentiu.
• Al Wadi 1-1 Coastal Union [Group A]: A draw that further complicated the standings.
• JKU 1-1 Dekedaha [Group A]: An evenly matched game, but Dekedaha later stunned JKU with a comeback victory.

As SC Villa waits anxiously, their fans hope for a favorable result that will keep their Kagame Cup dreams alive. The outcome of the Group B match will be pivotal in determining whether Villa’s efforts in the group stage were enough to see them through to the semi-finals.