After stunning APR FC 1-0 in the first leg of the Peace Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night, Gasogi United head coach Charles Ayiekoh Lukula insists it is too early to celebrate until his side completes the job in the return leg. A second-half strike from Ebenezer Niyigena separated the two teams, putting Gasogi United in a strong position to reach the Peace Cup semifinals. Lukula praised his players for their performance but cautioned that the tie is far from over, with another 90 minutes to play in the second leg, where Gasogi United will need only a draw to progress. “I am very happy that we registered a win over a giant like APR. The truth is that we prepared well for the game and the victory shows that our plan worked,” the experienced Ugandan coach said in a post-match interview. “The difference was putting pressure on their defenders, and it gave us results. I asked the boys to give their all, not to fear, and to fight for this victory—and they did exactly that.” Despite the advantage, Lukula emphasized the importance of maintaining focus ahead of the decisive second leg. “We still need to win the second leg or at least avoid defeat, so we have to prepare again. We have put ourselves in a good position to secure a semifinal place,” he said. “The most important thing is that we won, but we must keep improving because football is about getting better every day. I hope we stick to the strategy.” APR FC are the defending champions of the Peace Cup. Who is Charles Ayiekoh Lukula? Ugandan coach Charles Ayiekoh Lukula has built a long coaching career across several clubs in East Africa. Over the years, he has managed teams including Bunamwaya FC (now Vipers SC), Police FC, Maroons FC, Soana FC, Kirinya Jinja SS, Nyamityobora FC, Water FC, Wandegeya FC, and MUBS FC. He has also made significant contributions to women’s football, coaching Kampala Queens, Simba Queens, She Corporate, and the Uganda national women’s team, the Crested Cranes.
