Buluuli draw 1-1 with defending champions Buweekula in 2026 Masaza Cup as Fred Lopez nets late equaliser
Buluuli earned their first point of the 2026 Masaza Cup after holding defending champions Buweekula to a 1-1 draw at Kakooge Playground, with Fred Lopez rescuing a stoppage-time equaliser.
Buluuli open account but late goal denies home win
Buluuli secured a hard-fought 1-1 result against Buweekula on Sunday, July 19, 2026, claiming their first point of the 2026 Masaza Cup after five matches. Kosea Kagga gave the hosts the lead at Kakooge Playground and looked to have delivered a breakthrough that would lift Buluuli off the foot of the Bulange Group standings.
Buweekula refused to accept defeat and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when striker Fred Lopez drilled home an equaliser to foil the home celebrations. The late goal ensured Buweekula also finished the first round with five points from five games and kept their slim hopes of progressing alive heading into the second phase.
Match momentum swung late after tight first half
The encounter unfolded as a tactical, tightly contested affair for large stretches, with both sides cautious in possession and intent on avoiding early mistakes. Buluuli fashioned the clearer opportunities following the interval and converted when Kagga found space to lift the roof at Kakooge, rewarding persistent pressure from the hosts.
Buweekula’s response was measured, but for long periods they lacked a cutting final ball to threaten the lead. Their perseverance was ultimately rewarded when Lopez capitalised on a late chance, demonstrating the fine margins that often decide group-stage ties in the Masaza Cup.
Defending champions acknowledge early struggles but vow recovery
Buweekula head coach Ibrahim Kyobe described the group’s first round as below expectations but insisted the team remains in contention as the tournament progresses. Kyobe admitted the champions had underperformed but highlighted that the squad’s position after five matches — five points — still leaves the door open for recovery.
He said the club will use the scheduled break to address weaknesses identified during the opening round and aim for a stronger second phase. Kyobe confirmed management plans to strengthen the squad, with five new signings targeted during the one-week pause before the second round begins on August 1, 2026.
Players reflect on resilience and urgency ahead of return fixtures
Goalscorer Fred Lopez expressed relief at securing an equaliser at a decisive moment, underlining the importance of the point for Buweekula’s qualification hopes. Lopez credited his teammates and the technical staff for maintaining belief when the match seemed beyond reach, and he said the result provides renewed momentum.
Team captain Patrick Kagulire emphasised the squad’s resilience despite a difficult opening round and urged supporters to remain patient as the side seeks to regain form. Kagulire voiced confidence that the champions can recover in the second round and secure a place in the knockout phase, provided the team addresses its inconsistencies quickly.
Standings tighten in Bulange Group as first round concludes
When the first round concluded on July 19, 2026, Buddu topped the Bulange Group with 13 points, with Busujju second on nine and Buvuma third on seven. Kyaddondo occupied fourth with six points, followed by Buweekula on five and Buluuli with a solitary point after five games.
The spread of points leaves the group tightly contested, with several teams within reach of the qualification places as the competition moves into its second round. The compact nature of the table increases the significance of each fixture from August onward, where a single result could dramatically reshape the qualification picture.
Return fixture in Mubende now pivotal for both clubs
The second round of the 2026 Masaza Cup resumes on August 1, 2026, and the return meeting between Buweekula and Buluuli is scheduled for August 2, 2026, at NTC Playground in Mubende. That match now carries heightened importance, with Buweekula aiming to build on the late draw and Buluuli desperate to take points off a direct rival.
Both teams will head into the week-long break with clear objectives: Buweekula to integrate reinforcements and shore up areas of fragility, and Buluuli to turn the momentum of earning their first point into consistent performances. The outcome in Mubende could be a turning point in a group where margins are small and recovery remains possible for several sides.
Buluuli’s point at Kakooge represents a small but meaningful step for a side that had struggled for results, while Buweekula’s stoppage-time rescue is a reminder of the champions’ fighting spirit. As the Masaza Cup returns in August, attention will shift to how both clubs use the break to prepare, with recruitment, tactical adjustments and squad fitness all set to influence who advances from the Bulange Group.
