Express FC will make a return to the CAF Champions League for the first time since 1997 when they face Sudan’s Al Merrikh on Friday 10th September at the St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende.

The Uganda Premier League and CECAFA Kagame Cup champions who kickstart their continental campaign from the preliminary round stage hosting the first leg are hoping to draw inspiration from the recent CECAFA Kagame Cup triumph in Dar-es-Saalam Tanzania.

TEAM NEWS.

Godfrey Lwesibawa is back to full fitness having missed the semi and final of the CECAFA Kagame Cup.

The rest of the players are fit and available for selection, no suspensions as well.

MATCH STATS.

The Red Eagles are on a 24 match unbeaten run across all competitions with their last loss coming on 9th March 2021.

This will be the sixth meeting between the two sides with Al Merrikh picking up four wins compared to Express FC’s one with a draw between both sides.

Express FC’s only win against Al Merrikh was a 2-0 win in 1993 during the return leg of the then Africa Cup Winners Cup (CAF Confederations Cup).
Al Merrikh have managed 3 wins in their last five outings and have won the Sudanese premier League 16 times.

REACTIONS.

Wasswa Bbosa – Head Coach.

“This is a big game for all of us as a club, every Express FC fan has been dreaming about returning to the continent and here we are, we have been preparing ever since we returned from the Kagame Cup and I can assure you that we’re ready for Al Merrick because we know they’re an experienced side especially on the continent but we shall give it our all and try to kill the game from here”.

Enock Walusimbi – Defender/ Captain.

“As players our target was to play continental football and now that we have the chance to, we want to go all the way, Al Merrikh is a decent team but we’ve also prepared well like the coach said. The Kagame Cup experience helped a lot and we shall definitely build on that to ensure we make it to the first round”.

The game kicks off at 4pm and will be live on Sanyuka Television on StarTimes.

Match Officials.

Center Referee – Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti)

First Assistant Referee – Rachid Weis WAIS BOURALEH (Djibouti)

Second Assistant Referee – ROBLEH DIRIR Eleyeh ROBLEH (Djibouti)

Fourth Official – Mohamed Diraneh DIRANEH GUEDI. (Djibouti)

David Gikonyo Mwangi – Match Commissioner (Kenya)

Dr. James Ssekajugo – Covid-19 Officer (Uganda).