Four Ugandan footballers saw their European dreams tested on Thursday night as their clubs featured in UEFA Europa League and Conference League qualifiers — with mixed fortunes and no shortage of drama.
In Sweden, John Paul Dembe’s BK Häcken pulled off the shock of the round by eliminating Belgian giants Anderlecht in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Häcken came back from a first-leg deficit to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate, eventually sealing victory on penalties after extra time.
Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha became the unlikely hero by scoring the decisive spot kick. Dembe, however, stayed on the bench throughout.
Meanwhile, Rogers Mato endured a night to forget. After helping his side win the first leg 2-1, Mato and his teammates were blown away 5-0 in Switzerland by Lausanne. The 5-2 aggregate defeat abruptly ended their Europa League campaign.
Jordan Obita gave everything for Hibernian but it wasn’t enough. The Scottish club fell 3-2 on aggregate to Denmark’s Midtjylland in a tense contest settled by a jaw-dropping overhead goal from Junior Brumado in extra time.
Obita played the full match, and while Hibs were eliminated from the Europa League, they now shift focus to the Conference League where they’ll face Partizan Belgrade in the next round. Manager David Gray praised the squad’s fighting spirit despite the heartbreak.
For Elio Capradossi, there was no action. His side, U. Cluj, crashed out after a narrow 2-1 aggregate loss to Ararat Armenia. Capradossi wasn’t named in the matchday squad.
It was a rough night overall for Uganda’s European-based players, with only one club advancing.
