By Baptist Opua
Lira, Uganda – The USSSA Lango Zone Football Championship reached a fever pitch on Friday April 11th as host team Dr. Obote College (DOC) suffered a heartbreaking exit from the tournament, losing to Alemere Comprehensive Secondary School in a tense penalty shootout.
The match, held at the DOC Playground, was a thriller from start to finish.
Backed by a roaring crowd of supporters—many of them students from both Dr. Obote College and neighbouring Lira Town College—the hosts drew first blood through Onyong Ceaser, who fired home in the 31st minute to send the home fans into wild celebration.
But Alemere, champions of Amolatar District, proved their resilience.
They returned from the break with renewed vigor, equalizing through Okeng Emmanuel midway through the second half to level the score at 1-1.
With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, the match headed into a penalty decider.
Tension gripped the stadium as players stepped up one by one.
In the end, Alemere emerged victorious with a 7-6 edge in the shootout, stunning the hosts and earning a slot in the semifinals.
Earlier in the day, Wisdom High School announced their title intentions with a dominant 2-0 win over Maruzi Seed SS from Apac.
The standout performer was Shadrack Ageta, who netted both goals—one in each half—to carry his team into the semifinals.
Lira Town College also impressed, coming from behind to edge Chegere SS 2-1. Chegere’s Ocean Ceaser opened the scoring early, but Lira Town hit back through Ebong Tonny and Ocen Julie, sealing their place among the final four.
Meanwhile, defending champions Mentor SS continued their title defense with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Abongomola Seed SS.
Goals from Junior Ebal and Desmond Daudi Ogwok ensured Mentor SS remains firm contenders for back-to-back championships.
Boys’ Semifinal Fixtures – Today at 4 PM:
1. Wisdom High School vs. Lira Town College
2. Mentor SS vs. Alemere Comprehensive SS
The winners will meet in tomorrow’s final at Ambalal Primary School, while the semifinal losers will battle for third place—critical since the Lango Zone has three slots at the national championship.
In the girls’ category, St. Mary Magdalene sent shockwaves through the tournament with an astonishing 11-0 rout of St. Katherine Girls, the highest scoring game of the championship so far. The team now advances confidently into the semifinals.
Elsewhere, Ogur SS edged Aculbanya SS 1-0 in a tight contest, while defending champions Acaba SS reaffirmed their dominance with a composed 2-0 win over Atapara SS.
In the day’s surprise result, Adwari SS upset Alemere Comprehensive SS, clinching a hard-fought 2-1 victory to claim a place in the semifinals.
Girls’ Semifinal Fixtures – Today at 4 PM:
1. St. Mary Magdalene vs. Ogur SS at Ambalal Primary School Playground
2. Acaba SS vs. Adwari SS at Adyel Primary School Playground
With pride, prestige, and national qualification on the line, today’s semifinals promise to deliver football at its finest.
