It is the end of the road for StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions SC Villa in the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Club Championship.
After failing to beat Uganda Cranes midfielder Taddeo Lwanga’s APR only settling for a 1-1 draw on Monday, the Jogoos finished second in Group C with five points.
The above meant that qualification to the semifinals was out of the Jogoos’ hands and hanging on by a thread.
Dusan Stojanovic’s men needed Djibouti Telecom FC to pick at least a point against Red Arrows in Group B on Tuesday which did not happen.
The Zambian side which is the only team playing in the tournament on invitation edged Djibouti 1-0 courtesy of Anthony Shipanuka’s 21st minute goal.
Unlike in 2005 the last time they played in the tournament and won it unbeaten, this time around, the 17-time SUPL winners will return home trophy-less, although still unbeaten.
Villa will now shift their attention to the Uganda Premier League Super 8 happening in August as they prepare for the first round of the CAF Champions League preliminary round against Ethiopian Commercial Bank.
Gift Ali is the other Ugandan whose team Costal Union of Tanzania were eliminated from the group stages.
Lwanga’s APR from Rwanda, Red Arrows, and Sudan’s duo of Al Hilal and Al Wadi FC are in this year’s semifinals.
APR will face Al Hilal whereas Red Arrows will battle Al Wadi on Friday for the two spots in the final on Sunday.
