Thursday November 20, 2025
Uganda Premier League
Lugazi FC Vs Express FC
Lugazi FC Stadium – Najjembe
Kick-off: 4PM
Lugazi Football Club welcomes Express FC to the Lugazi FC Stadium – Najjembe on match day 7 of the Uganda Premier League on Thursday evening at 4pm.
It’s a clash between the 9th and the 7th with both sides boasting with a close matching record of two wins, two draws, two defeats, and a tally of eight points after six games – but the visitors are sitting two places above Lugazi FC because of a superior goal difference.
After going four games without a win, the Leaders finally returned to winning ways with a 5-2 thrashing of newbies Buhimba United Saints eleven days ago, and it’s quite obvious they would want to push for another three points here to stretch their unbeaten home run to four matches.
Their run of two victories – which include; the 3-1 beating of Calvary on the opening day, the 5-2 win over Buhimba, and the 0-0 draw against URA FC in the forest have contributed seven to the eight points count the team has at this stage of the campaign.
Express travel to the forest on the back of a win after beating Mbarara City 4-1 on November 5, 2025. Although they lost their head coach Badru Kaddu Mukasa to NEC FC, they captured Jimmy Kintu Mwera and Richard Malinga to fill that void.
As earlier said, they are currently 7th on the log with 8 points from six matches – having beaten UPDF 1-0, and the Ankole Lions 4-1. They also recorded draws against BUL FC and URA FC, but they are still winless on the road.
Lugazi FC dominated this fixture last season – winning both games, home and away with an identical score of 1-0. Thursday’s encounter is going to be the third meeting between the two teams.
Team News:
Assistant coach – Gerald Efiti confirmed in a pre-match press briefing that striker Alfred Leku is out of this game as he is away in South Sudan for national duties.
Midfielder Derrick Mwanje is back in training but will have to undergo a late fitness test before any decision can be made.
Besides the two, the rest of the players are available for this match.
Assistant Coach Gerald Efiti and defender cum midfielder Dauson Mafumu look ahead to Express FC clash.
Gerald Efiti:
“All our players are in camp and this has helped us to prepare well for this match. We resumed training immediately after the Buhimba game and we expect to win.”
“We conceded two quick goals in our previous game because we failed to manage spaces but we have since corrected that.”
“We have been working on closing down spaces, creating opportunities and scoring goals. So, we expect to win Thursday’s game although we are missing some players.”
“Derrick Mwanje has missed the previous two games, and we are waiting for the doctor’s report about his health and fitness condition. This will determine his fate for this match. But we are also going to be without striker Alfred Leku who is away for national duties with South Sudan.”
“The rest of the players are available for selection, and we think players like Freedom Mungudit can perfectly fill the void left behind by Leku.”
“Express beats us in terms of experience but our squad has improved a lot this season, we believe we shall win this game.”
Dauson Mafumu:
“I am very delighted to be part of the team set to face Express FC on Thursday. The international break has helped us prepare adequately for this game and all players are now well equipped, tactically and technically.”
“We have corrected all the mistakes we made in our previous game where we conceded two quick goals at the onset of the second half. We believe we are not going to concede such goals and in such a manner, again.”
“The coaches have helped us improve in many aspects during this break and we thank them for that. As players, we are yearning to win two consecutive games for the first time this season and that is where our focus is as a team.”
“We are working hard to achieve that, and as a former player at Express, I am delighted to face them, and I will make sure that I put up a fantastic performance which will get us the victory.”
Head to Head:
The previous two meetings between Lugazi FC and the Red Eagles came last season, with the Leaders winning both games 1-0, home and away.
Past four games for Lugazi FC:
November 8, 2025
Lugazi FC 5-2 Buhimba United Saints
October 30, 2025
Kitara 4-0 Lugazi FC
October 22, 2025
Lugazi FC 0-0 URA FC
October 16, 2025
KCCA FC 0-0 Lugazi FC
Past four games for Express FC
November 5, 2025
Express FC 4-1 Mbarara City
October 30, 2025
BUL FC 0-0 Express FC
October 23, 2025
Express FC 0-1 KCCA FC
October 17, 2025
URA FC 1-1 Express FC
