Jima Kitika (R) of Commercial Bank competes during the preliminary round first-leg match between Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and SC Villa of Uganda at 2024/2025 CAF Champions League in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
KAMPALA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's SC Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC in the first preliminary round of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League on Saturday.
The Uganda Premier League champions started on a high looking for an early goal at the Mandela National Stadium.
But it was the visitors who took the lead through Simon Peter Oketch after 20 minutes. After a defensive lapse, Oketch made no mistake in beating SC Villa goalkeeper Jeans Brady Wokorach.
Patrick Kakande should have leveled matters for SC Villa, but shot off the target from close range after 40 minutes.
SC Villa substitute Charles Lwanga was sent off after a nasty challenge on an opposite player.
SC Villa's coach Morley Byekwaso said he was not happy with the way they approached the first half because they gave the opponents lots of space. "But we improved later and we need to travel to Ethiopia for the return leg ready to fight on," added the coach.
SC Villa will now need to win by two goals in the return leg on August 24 to qualify for the second preliminary round. ■
Suleman Hamid (R) of Commercial Bank is shown a yellow card during the preliminary round first-leg match between Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and SC Villa of Uganda at 2024/2025 CAF Champions League in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Arnold Odong (L) of SC Villa and Simon Piter of Commercial Bank compete during the preliminary round first-leg match between Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and SC Villa of Uganda at 2024/2025 CAF Champions League in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Team members of Commercial Bank celebrate after winning the preliminary round first-leg match between Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and SC Villa of Uganda at 2024/2025 CAF Champions League in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Jima Kitika of Commercial Bank celebrates winning the preliminary round first-leg match between Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and SC Villa of Uganda at 2024/2025 CAF Champions League in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
