Vipers Vs KCCA Build-up: Revisiting the last five meetings between the two sides

Reining Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC and 13-time winners KCCA FC are set for what promises a pulsating encounter this Friday at the St Mary's Stadium, Kitende.

Meetings between the two giants are oftentimes hotly contested with unimaginable passions, controversies, high-quality football, late goals, tears and unthinkable joys.

The tie presents two of the country's most successful sides across the past decade, as Vipers have won five league titles, with KCCA on four in that spell. Express FC is the only other team to have a sniff.

The past five games between Vipers and KCCA have thus unsurprisingly, been massively tight.

December 5, 2021 - Vipers 2-2 KCCA

Over two years since this hugely entertaining tie at Kitende, it's still tipped as one of the best UPL games in the last ten seasons.

KCCA broke the deadlock in the fifth minute through Sadat Anaku to silence the rowdy home crowd. Four minutes later, the hosts levelled through Cesar Manzoki after beautiful interplay with Milton Karisa.

Six minutes into the second half, substitute Yasser Mugerwa, who had replaced Rogers Mato at halftime, put KCCA back in front with another magnificent strike from outside the box.

With two minutes to the end of the game, Bobosi Byaruhanga, who had received stick and boos from then KCCA fans the entire game, equalized with an absolute thunderbolt from distance off the crossbar.

The goal was initially contested by the KCCA players, technical team and fans, but videos later on revealed the goal had crossed the line.

April 16, 2022 - KCCA 1-2 Vipers

The versatile Denis Iguma gave KCCA a sixth-minute lead off an Ashraf Mugume ball, as the Kasasiro Boys hoped to halt Vipers' run for the title.

In the 27th minute, Manzoki headed brightly a Yunus Sentamu cross to level matters for the Venoms.

At the hour-mark, Karisa took advantage of a defensive mixup to win it at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.

October 22, 2022 - KCCA 1-0 Vipers

After the past two meetings of a similar tale, KCCA yet again netted early in the sixth minute, courtesy of Rogers Mato in a fully-packed MTN Omondi Stadium.

Despite a late fight from Vipers, the home team, under Morley Byekwaso, held on for the victory.

May 5, 2023 Vipers 1-0 KCCA

Flares ensued in what was a title decider last season. The game had it all; quality, fights, physicality, contentious refereeing decisions and of course, a late goal.

In front of a mammoth Kitende crowd, Karisa grabbed the only goal of the night in the 88th minute to win it.

Following the game, multiple suspensions were issued over respective offences.

The likes of KCCA's Simon Kankonde, Denis Iguma, coach Jackson Mayanja and Vipers' (then) goalkeepers' coach Ibrahim Mugisha all received bans or fines.

November 10, 2023 - KCCA 3-1 Vipers

After struggling head coach Sergio Traguil got fired by KCCA, many tipped Vipers for an easy win, but interim tactician Jackson Magera had other ideas.

Muhammad Shaban scored early in the second minute. He then added another in the 58th minute, which was contested as the ball was wrongly adjudged to have crossed the line.

Usama Arafat then sealed the victory in the 96th minute, before Abubakar Lawal grabbed the consolation a minute later.