Matchday 6 of the Guinness powered NGO League delivered its most dramatic weekend of football yet, as both the Round of 16 and quarterfinal fixtures were held over the weekend at King’s Park Arena, Bweyogerere.
The Round of 16 unfolded with largely expected outcomes, though FC Butida stunned many with a resounding 4–1 victory over 94 Hundred, driven by a brilliant hat-trick from Joshua Ogwang.
AFewGoodMen, Hornbills, Los Bandidos, Ba Musaayi Muto, Barbarians, Ba Guy and Tyrants also advanced, while the bottom four teams contested the Wooden Spoon playoffs. Titans and Madiaba, the losing sides, will now meet in the Wooden Spoon decider on the final matchday.
The intensity rose sharply in the quarterfinals. Defending champions Los Bandidos were eliminated after a narrow 1–0 loss to Season 4 runners-up Ba Musaayi Muto, sealed by another decisive finish from Humphrey Enyang. Hornbills eased to a dominant 3–0 win over FC Butida, and Ba Guy maintained their defensive solidity with a 2–1 victory over Tyrants.
The day’s biggest upset came when Pool A leaders AFewGoodMen were knocked out by a roaring Barbarians side. After going behind, the Barbarians responded superbly as captain Andrew Hygie equalised before league top scorer Ivan Otai produced a ruthless brace to complete a 3–1 comeback. Otai’s three goals from four shots pushed his season tally to 12, extending his lead at the top of the scoring charts.
These results confirmed the NGO League Final Four, with Ba Guy set to face Barbarians and Hornbills preparing to meet Ba Musaayi Muto. Ba Musaayi Muto arrive at this stage buoyed by Enyang’s decisive contributions across both rounds, while Hornbills enter in strong form after consecutive clean sheets from goalkeeper Ibrahim Kakaire. Ba Musaayi Muto’s Lawrence Byamukama also impressed, finishing with two clean sheets and earning the clean sheet accolade of the day with nine saves. Across the season, the overall clean sheet lead remains with Nathan Isadat of AFewGoodMen with six, followed by Esther Akoj of Barbarians and Kakaire with five.
Enyang’s all-round influence earned him Matchday 6 MVP honours after delivering two match-winning goals, eight total shots, four on target and two important clearances. His season tally now sits at six goals, level with teammate Victor Chacha, who continues to lead the league in assists with six. Chasing him are Enyang, Norbert Lalobo, Fred Sekweyama and Thomas Tokawaka, each with three assists.
The weekend also highlighted the continued support of Guinness, whose involvement has helped elevate the standard and visibility of the competition.
Guinness Brand Manager Denise Nazzinda noted the significance of the performances on Matchday 6, saying, “The passion, commitment and energy displayed throughout the playoffs reflect the incredible growth of the NGO League. Guinness is proud to partner with the league as it continues to inspire community, talent and competition.”
The NGO League returns on December 21st for the grand finale, which will feature the semifinals and the championship final as the battle for the TNLV crown reaches its thrilling conclusion.
