FEASSSA Games: Uganda’s Bukedea edge Musingu to claim first-ever boys’ football crown

Kenya’s wait for the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) boys’ football title stretches on.

On Friday, August 22, at Moi Stadium Kisumu, Bukedea Comprehensive Academy from Uganda stamped their dominance on the region’s football stage by defeating Kenya’s Musingu High School 2–1 in a pulsating final.

The Ugandan making a second appearance in FEASSSA, crowned champions for the first time, rode on a brilliant brace from Uganda U17 winger Businge Amos, while Musingu’s solitary strike came from their ever-reliable forward Quimba Shaban.

Uganda’s stranglehold on the title continues, having now lifted the boys’ crown consecutively since 2016, save for the COVID-19 hiatus when the competition was not staged.

Bukedea succeed last year’s winners Amus College, while St. Mary’s Kitende remain the record holders with 14 titles.

Kenya’s last triumph dates back to 2016 in Eldoret, when Barding High School etched their name in history, joining St. Antony Kitale as the only Kenyan victors of the coveted gong.

Musingu, having tasted final heartbreak before, were determined to flip the script.

The chase for a new champion roared to life with Bukedea Comprehensive Academy drawing first breath on the ball, but it was the Scorpions of Musingu who struck the early venom.

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Having barely caught their breath after their earlier semi-final against St. Joseph’s High School Kitale, Brendan Mwinamo’s charges came out swinging, with eyes firmly fixed on goal.

Sam Kamulinde’s Bukedea, however, chose a patient, measured approach , but their calmness was soon rattled when Musingu’s early sting forced them to tighten up.

Inside the opening minute, Bukedea's Wanyama Simon came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock, unleashing a stinging effort from the left wing that targeted the top-right corner, only to cannon off the bar and draw a full-stretch save from Musingu'’s Boaz Mushira.

Play paused briefly after a heavy fall involving Roony Ochieng and Bukedea’s Asumwe John, but both were cleared to continue after medical attention.

By the 10th minute, Musingu were swarming forward, with Roony Ochieng teeing up Harrison Amalemba in acres of space.

Amalemba, however, hesitated a heartbeat too long, his eventual shot deflected for a corner.

Moments later, a goalmouth melee saw Amalemba and Quimba Shaban unleash a flurry of attempts that ricocheted off defenders like bullets off a shield.

Three minutes on, another golden chance fell to Amalemba, but his finish was even more wayward, sailing over the bar and into the Kisumu skies.

Lady Luck finally bent Musingu’s way in the 15th minute.

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Quimba Shaban, a man in relentless scoring form, pounced on a loose ball and scrapped a goal out of nowhere to hand his side the lead which was accompanied by a roar erupted from the stands as fans at Moi Stadium leapt in unison.

But before the echoes of celebration had faded, Bukedea struck back.

A spell of intricate tiki-taka play carved open Musingu’s defense, and Businge Amos slotted home with icy composure into the far-left corner.

Mushira flung himself desperately, but all he could do was watch the ball kiss the net.

The tempo rose with the midday sun over Kisumu, the game turning into a tug-of-war as Bukedea began to find their rhythm, stringing passes with intent while Musingu fought to reclaim control.

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By the half-hour mark, the pendulum had swung back towards the Kakamega-based Scorpions, who dictated possession but lacked the killer blow.

As the halftime whistle pierced the heat-soaked air, the scoreline remained locked at 1–1 , a final finely balanced, the title hanging in the balance like a fruit yet to ripen.

They kicked off the second half with fire in their bellies, Sifuna Ian spearheading their early surges.

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Sempasa Javan, however, turned tormentor-in-chief for Bukedea, whipping dangerous balls from the flank and stretching Musingu’s defensive lines like a thread on the brink of snapping.

Midway through the second half, the game opened up like a book in a storm.

Musingu forced their way into the danger area on several occasions, twice testing Bukedea’s Kanyagalara Antony with stinging efforts that had the crowd gasping.

At the other end, Bukedea relied on quick counter punches, their frontmen darting like cheetahs in the savannah, forcing Musingu’s backline to retreat deeper.

In the 55th minute, Bukedea struck the decisive blow.

Amos, already on the scoresheet, danced past his marker with the grace of a matador before rifling home from close range to put his side ahead and on course for their maiden FEASSSA title.

Chasing the game, Musingu rolled the dice with a double substitution, introducing Marvin Ashiundu and Kelvin Manani.

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The effect was immediate. Wave after wave of Kenyan attacks crashed against Bukedea’s defensive wall-headers, low drives, and crosses rained in, but Antony in goal stood tall, parrying, punching, and stretching time like an elastic band.

Bukedea, sensing history, slowed the tempo to a crawl.

Players went down at the slightest touch, every throw-in chewed seconds, every clearance a minor victory.

Musingu pushed until the dying embers, but the clock proved their fiercest opponent.

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At the final whistle, the Ugandan bench erupted in unbridled joy, history made, a first crown sealed.

On the opposite end, Musingu players sank to their knees, the weight of back-to-back final defeats pressing heavy on their shoulders, their dreams once again slipping through their fingers like sand.