Kawempe Muslim vs Uganda Martyrs: Combined XI Ahead of FUFA Women’s Cup Round of 16 Clash

Saturday, May 30
Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC vs Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC — Kawempe, 3:00 PM

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC host Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC on Saturday afternoon in the Round of 16 of the FUFA Women’s Cup.

Ahead of the highly anticipated knockout encounter, Geoffrey Mugabi selects a combined XI based on current form, ability, experience, and overall impact this season.

Goalkeeper: Saidat Namwanje (Kawempe Muslim)

Namwanje has been instrumental in Kawempe’s league title triumph. The talented shot-stopper excels in one-on-one situations and has consistently delivered when called upon, earning her place between the posts.

Right Back: Samalie Nakacwa (Kawempe Muslim)

The experienced full-back remains one of the best in the league. Her ability to contribute both defensively and offensively makes her an easy selection at right-back.

Left Back: Sharon Kanyiginya (Uganda Martyrs)

A versatile player capable of operating as both a defender and attacker, Kanyiginya combines defensive solidity with attacking creativity. She narrowly edges Kawempe’s Aminah Nakato, who has also enjoyed an impressive season.

Centre Back: Gloria Namugerwa (Uganda Martyrs)

Leadership, experience, and composure define Namugerwa. A proven performer in big matches, she earns a deserved place in the team.

Centre Back: Hadijah Babirye (Kawempe Muslim)

The calm and composed defender has been among the standout centre-backs this season. Her excellent game reading, aerial strength, endurance, and ability to win duels make her a key inclusion.

Defensive Midfielder: Krusum Namutebi (Kawempe Muslim)

While her contributions may not always attract headlines, Namutebi remains one of the finest defensive midfielders in the country. Her positional awareness, ball distribution, game management, and defensive intelligence allow others around her to flourish.

Central Midfielder: Agnes Nabukenya (Kawempe Muslim)

A true leader, Nabukenya combines creativity, work rate, and goalscoring ability. She has consistently delivered in crucial moments and remains one of the league’s most influential players.

Attacking Midfielder: Docus Kisakye (Kawempe Muslim)

Kisakye possesses the ability to control the tempo of a match through intelligent passing and creativity. Her calmness on the ball and knack for creating opportunities make her a natural choice in the attacking midfield role.

Right Winger: Jovia Nakagolo (Kawempe Muslim)

One of the league’s most aggressive attacking players, Nakagolo is known for her relentless running, direct approach, and ability to cause problems for defenders throughout a match. The reigning league MVP is a constant threat in the final third.

Left Winger: Angel Kigongo Auki (Uganda Martyrs)

Auki’s versatility and direct style of play earn her a place on the left flank. She is effective at making runs, delivering crosses, and testing goalkeepers with her shooting ability.

Centre Forward: Latifah Nakasi (Kawempe Muslim)

The former Uganda Martyrs captain has established herself as one of the most consistent forwards in Ugandan women’s football over the past five seasons. With a remarkable record of at least 10 goal involvements in each campaign, Nakasi is a striker capable of influencing games through both goals and assists. Her movement on and off the ball makes her a nightmare for defenders.

Coach: Edward Kasozi Ssozi (Uganda Martyrs)

For longevity and sustained success, many would choose Kawempe’s Ayub Khalifah. However, in the context of this competition, Kasozi Ssozi gets the nod. He guided Uganda Martyrs to the FUFA Women’s Cup title in 2023, eliminating Kawempe in the semifinals before defeating She Maroons in the final.

Considering the quality of players he has worked with, and his achievements in knockout football, there is a strong argument that he could achieve similar success with the resources currently available at Kawempe.

It should be noted that if the teams are level at the end of normal time, two periods of extra time of 15 minutes each will be played. Should the sides remain tied after extra time, the winner will be determined through a penalty shootout.