UPL: NEC vs URA – Preview, Team News, Stats

UPL MD22 | Thursday Fixtures

UPDF FC vs Mbarara City, 4pm, Bombo
NEC FC vs URA FC, 8pm, Lugogo

Preview: Mbalangu faces former paymasters in a tough contest

Hussein Mbalangu returns to Lugogo on Thursday evening with URA FC to face his former club NEC FC in matchday 22 of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.

URA FC come into this fixture boosted by their victory over KCCA FC, which secured their place in the semifinals of the Uganda Cup.

NEC FC, on the other hand, were eliminated by Vipers SC after a penalty shootout.

In their previous league outing, URA FC suffered a 3-1 defeat to Express FC and will be eager to return to winning ways.

NEC FC edged Police FC 1-0 in their last match, courtesy of a solitary strike from Ssenoga Muhammad Kagawa.

The reverse fixture between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw, with Moses Aliro cancelling out Ronald Innocent’s opener for NEC FC.

In their last five league meetings, NEC FC have won twice, drawn twice, and lost once. Notably, both of NEC’s victories have come at home.

A total of nine goals have been scored across those five encounters, with none of the matches producing more than two goals, suggesting this could be another low-scoring affair.

NEC FC remain unbeaten in the Uganda Premier League this year and have kept five consecutive clean sheets.

Team News

“We have worked on the mistakes we made against KCCA FC to ensure an improved performance against NEC. The hosts are a very tough team and defend well, but we will aim to take maximum points. Looking at the table, we need to win games, starting with NEC,” said Hussein Mbalangu, URA FC head coach.

“It is unfortunate that we are out of the Uganda Cup, but that is now in the past. Our focus is on improving the players and winning as many games as possible. We expect a big challenge, but playing at home, we have to win. I call upon our fans to come and support us,” said Badru Kaddu, NEC FC head coach.

Gideon Odongo, Emmanuel Ajo, and Joseph Dhata are unavailable for NEC FC due to injuries.

URA FC will only be without goalkeeper Abdu Magada, with the rest of the squad available for selection.

Stats

02.10.25 – URA 1-1 NEC FC
24.05.25 – NEC FC 1-0 URA
05.12.24 – URA 1-1 NEC FC
16.04.24 – URA 2-0 NEC FC
06.12.23 – NEC FC 2-0 URA