2018 finalists West Nile Province will face off again against Lango Province on Sunday, 15th January 2023, in the return leg of the final at Akiibua Stadium, Lira.
The White Rhinos are 90 minutes away from winning their maiden trophy following their 2-0 win in the first leg at Greenlight Stadium last weekend thanks to Rashid Toha and Fred Amaku strikes.
It will be the third meeting between both sides with West Nile winning both.
Prior to the return leg final, both sides have played seven matches which started at the round of 16 with West Nile winning six and drawing once, scoring a total of 16 goals and conceding one.
On the other hand, Lango have registered three wins, two draws and two losses, netting seven times and conceding five times.
The tie will also see the two current leading scorers both on four goals meet again that is Westnile Province Ibrahim Dada and Lango’s Allan Okello who both didn’t find the back of the net in the first leg.
Allan Okello of Lango Province & Ibrahim Dada of West Nile Province are the current leading scorers of this edition's FUFA Drum with each tied on 4️⃣ goals.
Just like it was in the first leg, both sides will miss out on the services of key players who are with Uganda Cranes in Algeria for CHAN preparations that is inspirational custodian and skipper Nafian Alionzi for Westnile Province and so is Rogers Mato and Moses Aliro for Lango.
Aliro and Alionzi pose for a selfie at the Cranes CHAN 2022 camp
It’s the second time Westnile Province will be apprearing in the final following their first in the first edition in 2018 which they lost to Buganda over two legs while for Lango Province it will be their first time here.
The aggregate winner over the two legs will be crowned champions.
Buganda Province and Acholi Province won the first and second editions in 2018 and 2019, respectively, before COVID-19 hit the world.
Defender Rashid Toha and striker Fred Amaku were on target as West Nile beat Lango Province 2-0 in the FUFA Drum first leg final at Greenlight Stadium.
Starting XI’s – West Nile Province v Lango Province
The Arua Hill SC captain netted directly from a free kick in the opening half before Amaku sealed it with a screamer towards the end of the tie.
Rashid Toha scores and celebrates with team mates
The home side was dominant in the early stages of the game and got a couple of chances, but Lango goalie Emmanuel Odongkara was alert.
Lango’s best chance in the game came towards the end of the game when Denis Omedi’s attempt hit the crossbar.
The result meant West Nile took the first leg with a two-goal advantage before the return leg at Akibua Stadium in Lira.
Fred Amaku celebrates with team mates
Goal Highlights
https://youtu.be/dy6rphaBcBc
Below is the road map to the final for both provinces.
West Nile Province
Round 16
West Nile Province 5-0 Karamoja Province Karamoja Province 0-1 West Nile.
Quarter Final
West Nile Province 4-0 Kampala Province Kampala Province 0-2 West Nile Province
Semi final
West Nile Province 1-0 Acholi Province Acholi Province 1-1 West Nile Province
Lango Province
Round 16
Lango Province 0-0 Ankole Province Ankole Province 0-1 Lango Province
Quarter final
Bugisu Province 1-0 Lango Province Lango Province 3-0 Bugisu Province
Semi final
Tooro Province 2-2 Lango Province Lango Province 1-0 Tooro Province
2018 finalists West Nile Province will host Lango Province this Saturday in the first leg final at the Greenlight Stadium, Arua in a highly anticipated encounter.
It will be the second meeting between both sides with the first coming in the second edition in 2019 in the quarter final with West Nile winning 3-1 at the Akiibua stadium thanks to Fred Amaku, Rashid Agau and Tabu Vitalis goals before Fahad Badiro got the consolation for Lango.
Prior to the final, both sides have played six matches which started at the round of 16 with West Nile winning five and drawing once, scoring a total of 14 goals and conceding one.
On the other hand, Lango have registered three wins, two draws and one loss, netting seven times and conceding three times.
The tie will also see the two current leading scorers both on four goals face off that is Westnile Province Ibrahim Dada and Lango’s Allan Okello.
Allan Okello of Lango Province & Ibrahim Dada of West Nile Province are the current leading scorers of this edition's FUFA Drum with each tied on 4️⃣ goals.
Both sides will miss out on the services of key players who are with Uganda Cranes in Tunisia for CHAN preparations that is inspirational custodian and skipper Nafian Alionzi for Westnile Province and so is Rogers Mato and Moses Aliro for Lango.
Fact: West Nile goalkeeper and skipper Nafian Alionzi has kept five clean sheets out of six in this edition's FUFA Drum Tournament with his side scoring 14 goals so far.#CelebratingOurAncestrypic.twitter.com/QpscDCsjUx
It’s the second time Westnile Province will be apprearing in the final following their first in the first edition in 2018 which they lost to Buganda over two legs while for Lango Province it will be their first time here.
The aggregate winner over the two legs will be crowned champions.
Buganda Province and Acholi Province won the first and second edition in 2018 and 2019 respectively before COVID-19 hit the World.
As we inch closer to the FUFA Drum final, a new winner will be witnessed between West Nile and Lango Province over two legs.
The starting XI’s of West Nile and Lango during the semi-finals second leg
The first leg final will come this Saturday 7th January 2023 at Greenlight Stadium in a highly anticipated tie before the return at Akiibua Stadium in Lira.
It will be the second time Westnile are playing in the finals after featuring in the first edition against Buganda Province which they eventually lost over the two legs.
Lango will be appearing in their first final with high hopes of winning it but will have to do this in Arua without key men Rogers Mato and Moses Aliro who are on national duty with Uganda Cranes and so is custodian Nafian Alionzi for West Nile.
Photos from the semi-finals second leg
In this edition, West Nile who are still unbeaten have scored (13) and only conceded once.
