BUL vs NEC FC Prediction: BUL to win this first leg encounter

For the second time this week, BUL and NEC FC will face off, this time in the Uganda Cup semifinal first leg. In their last meeting, NEC FC secured a 1-0 win. How will this one end?

BUL were defeated by NEC FC in their last game, and coming here, the home team will look to take their chances. Last time in this competition, BUL got past Kampala City on penalties in a game that ended 6-5. However, the regular time of that encounter finished 1-1, with Alex Kitata scoring for BUL before Etienne Openga Katenga leveled the scores for Kampala City, both goals coming in the first 14 minutes of the game. Coming into this game, BUL had lost just one of their last four games, while they won two and drew one. In those matches, BUL scored six goals and conceded two.

NEC FC will hope to inflict another defeat on BUL FC after their midweek encounter, which they won. In that encounter, a 54th-minute Kelvin Tah Barni was the difference, giving NEC FC all three points in a league encounter. In the meantime, last time NEC FC played in this Uganda Cup, they took on Police, and they won that game 0-2, with Rwothomio Cromwell and Wahab Gadafi both netting. However, NEC FC have now won three of their last five games in all competitions, scoring four goals in those encounters while conceding three.

The two teams should approach this game with a defensive mindset, as they will focus on not losing with a second leg scheduled early next month. However, at home, BUL come in as favorites, and they will look to take their chances, as a draw will be sufficient on the road. Also, both teams' matchups recently have not ended with many goals, and that could be the case here.