Vipers SC had to dig deep in unforgiving conditions to edge Northern Gateway 1-0 in their Uganda Cup clash in Lira on Thursday, grinding out a result that owed more to resilience than rhythm.
On a parched, dusty surface and under searing heat, the Venoms found little comfort from the setting. Yet Ivan Jacky Minnaert left no room for sentiment. The Belgian tactician rolled out a near full-strength XI, a clear signal of intent that this was a tie he was not prepared to gamble with.
The game’s first turning point arrived early. In the 19th minute, midfielder Hillary Mukundane was forced into an untimely exit after picking up an injury, prompting a reshuffle as Rogers Torach was thrown into the fray. The disruption briefly unsettled Vipers, allowing Northern Gateway to grow in confidence and contest the midfield battles with bite.
Clear chances were scarce as both sides wrestled for control, with the hosts feeding off home support and the visitors battling the elements as much as the opposition. Just when it seemed the interval would arrive with the deadlock intact, Chukwuma Chukwurah lit up the contest.
With two minutes left before the break, the forward conjured a moment of individual brilliance, slaloming past his markers before whipping a precise effort into the bottom corner. The strike cut through a cagey first half and gave Vipers the cushion they desperately needed.
Into the hat for the next round 🎩
We enter the hat for the Round of 32 draw in this season’s #StanbicUgandaCup following a 1-0 victory against Northern Gateway FC. Thanks to Odili Chukwuma’s first half strike. #VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/jJdbIxfx8n
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) February 5, 2026
The second period unfolded as a tense, physical affair. Northern Gateway pushed for an equaliser, throwing bodies forward and testing Vipers’ resolve. The Venoms, however, managed the game with discipline, soaking up pressure and choosing their moments to slow the tempo, aware that one lapse could undo the hard-earned advantage.
When the final whistle sounded, it confirmed a narrow but valuable away victory for Vipers, earned the hard way, in harsh conditions, and sealed by a flash of quality from Chukwuma. The result keeps the Venoms on track in the Uganda Cup and underlines their knack for finding solutions even when the football itself refuses to flow.
