KCCA Women 0-0 St. Noa Girls FC: Nakirya’s Heroics Earn Belles Valuable Point in Lugogo

St. Noa Girls FC goalkeeper Lilian Nakirya produced a commanding display between the posts on Saturday, making a series of important saves to help the Belles hold KCCA Women FC to a goalless draw at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, in a tightly contested Match Day Two encounter of the 2026/27 Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League.

Nakirya was at the heart of St. Noa’s resistance throughout an absorbing afternoon in Lugogo, repeatedly standing between KCCA and the breakthrough they desperately sought. With the hosts featuring an attacking line led by Joanitah Ainembabazi and Kamiyati Naigaga, who had scored twice in KCCA’s 3-0 opening-day victory over URA Ladies FC, St. Noa needed a goalkeeper capable of maintaining concentration under sustained pressure, and Nakirya answered that call with authority.

Her most important contribution came in the dying moments of the contest when she produced a remarkable last-minute save to deny KCCA winger Peace Muduwa from close range. Second-half substitute Faridah Namirimu had fumbled Jolly Kobusinge’s inviting cross inside the St. Noa penalty area, presenting Muduwa with what appeared to be a golden opportunity to snatch victory. However, Nakirya reacted instinctively, throwing herself into the path of the effort to preserve the Belles’ clean sheet and secure a valuable point.

The latest shutout was Nakirya’s second consecutive clean sheet of the campaign after she had also kept She Corporate at bay during St. Noa’s 1-0 away victory on Match Day One. Her contribution across the opening two fixtures has therefore been significant, providing the defensive foundation behind a side that has conceded no goals while collecting four points from its first two matches.

Nakirya’s impressive start to the season also comes at an important moment in her international career. The St. Noa goalkeeper is part of the latest Crested Cranes squad named by head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes for Uganda’s second-round African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Her strong performances at club level therefore provide timely competition for a place among Uganda’s goalkeeping options ahead of the upcoming international assignments.

The Crested Cranes squad contains four goalkeepers, with Nakirya joined by Karungi Vanessa Edith of Brondby IF Women, Aturo Ruth of Simba Queens FC and Adeke Angella of Amus College WFC. The selection places Nakirya alongside goalkeepers competing in different environments and gives her another opportunity to demonstrate her qualities as she continues to establish herself at both club and international level.

Uganda will face Zambia over two legs in the second-round qualifying tie, with the first fixture scheduled for 8 October 2026 before the return leg takes place on 13 October 2026. Nakirya’s performance against KCCA therefore provides an encouraging individual showing ahead of a potentially important period with the national team.

St. Noa’s impressive start becomes even more noteworthy when the quality of their opposition and the venues are taken into consideration. Both of their opening fixtures have been played away from home, against teams that finished second and third respectively in last season’s league campaign. Four points from those two demanding assignments have given the Belles an unbeaten beginning and underlined their ability to compete against established sides.

🎙️ After a busy afternoon between the sticks, 🧤@LillianNakirya gives her thoughts on today’s goalless draw with KCCA Women. 🔴⚪

Hear from our shot-stopper. 👇 pic.twitter.com/HMx8JRAZXT

— ST. NOA GFC (@GfcNoa) September 26, 2026

Although Nakirya deservedly received much of the attention, St. Noa’s defensive unit also delivered an outstanding performance. Former captain Barbara Anomo and the rest of the backline spent long periods dealing with KCCA’s attacking pressure, but they remained disciplined, composed and committed to their defensive responsibilities, repeatedly blocking passing lanes, closing down attackers and denying the hosts the clear openings they needed.

Anomo’s experience proved particularly valuable as the visitors dealt with KCCA’s attempts to stretch the defence and create opportunities around the penalty area. Working collectively with her defensive teammates, she helped ensure that St. Noa remained compact and difficult to penetrate, allowing Nakirya to deal with the opportunities that did make their way through.

The midfield battle was another fascinating aspect of the encounter, with St. Noa captain Imelda Kasemire leading her side through a demanding contest in the centre of the pitch. Kasemire and her teammates matched KCCA’s intensity, competed for possession and disrupted the rhythm of the hosts, making it difficult for KCCA to establish the sustained control that could have opened up St. Noa’s defensive structure.

KCCA, meanwhile, introduced Kayesu Yuster Joan into their starting line-up for her debut after her move from Rines SS WFC. Yuster replaced Loyce Komugisha as head coach Hamza Lutalo sought to add a different dimension to his midfield and provide his attacking players with greater service. Despite the change, however, KCCA found St. Noa’s midfield difficult to dominate.

The visitors were not entirely dependent on their defensive work and also created moments that could have produced a breakthrough. One of their most promising opportunities arrived in the first half when KCCA goalkeeper Gloria Namakula appeared uncomfortable while attempting to deal with a back pass from captain Jamila Nabulime under pressure from the St. Noa attack.

The pressure eventually forced Namakula into an error, allowing St. Noa winger Sumaiyah Nalumu to take possession outside the penalty area. Nalumu quickly attempted to exploit the situation with a left-footed effort, but her weaker-foot strike lacked the power required to seriously trouble Namakula, who recovered to collect the ball and prevent the visitors from taking advantage of the mistake.

The moment nevertheless illustrated St. Noa’s willingness to press high and make life uncomfortable for KCCA’s defenders and goalkeeper. Rather than simply sitting deep and protecting their own goal, the Belles looked for opportunities to force mistakes and create openings of their own.

The match also carried an emotional significance for St. Noa following the injury suffered by midfielder Patricia Nayiga during the team’s opening-day victory over She Corporate. Nayiga was unable to feature at Lugogo and watched the encounter from the stands, with the injury expected to keep her on the sidelines for an extended period.

Nayiga’s current condition means she requires artificial walking aids and support to move around, making her absence a difficult one for both the player and the team. Nevertheless, her teammates ensured that she remained very much part of the occasion, offering a touching show of solidarity before and after the match.

During the team photograph before kick-off, St. Noa’s players held up placards wishing Nayiga a quick recovery. After the final whistle, the players also walked towards the stands where their teammate was seated and displayed the messages once again, a heartfelt gesture that brought a smile to Nayiga’s face despite the difficult circumstances surrounding her injury.

On the pitch, the Belles produced the kind of disciplined performance that could provide a strong foundation for the remainder of their campaign. Their ability to withstand KCCA’s pressure without conceding, while still creating opportunities of their own, demonstrated both defensive organisation and growing maturity within the squad.

For KCCA Women FC, however, the result represented a frustrating afternoon after the emphatic start they had made against URA Ladies FC. Having scored three goals in their opening fixture, the hosts were unable to find the same attacking fluency against a St. Noa side that defended with greater organisation and consistently reduced the amount of space available in dangerous areas.

Naigaga, who had announced herself with a brace on Match Day One, was closely monitored throughout the encounter and struggled to reproduce the freedom she enjoyed against URA. Ainembabazi and KCCA’s other attacking players also found themselves confronted by a well-organised defensive block that was determined to protect its goal.

The hosts continued to search for a breakthrough as the match progressed, but St. Noa’s resilience remained intact. Every KCCA opportunity was met with either a timely intervention from the defenders or another important contribution from Nakirya, whose late save ultimately became the defining moment of the contest.

The goalless draw leaves both teams with four points from their opening two matches. KCCA Women FC currently occupy first position, while St. Noa Girls WFC sit fourth, with the early table separated by goal difference.

Kawempe Muslims LFC and She Maroons FC also have four points after playing out a 0-0 draw at Wankulukuku on Friday. KCCA, Kawempe Muslims and She Maroons have each scored three goals and conceded none, giving the three sides a plus-three goal difference, while St. Noa have scored twice without conceding, leaving them with a plus-two goal difference.

The early standings could still change following Sunday’s meeting between Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC and Rines SS WFC. Uganda Martyrs enter the fixture in fifth position and would move above the current leading group if they secure maximum points, demonstrating just how tightly packed the table remains after only two rounds of action.

For St. Noa, however, the bigger picture remains encouraging. Four points from two away fixtures, two consecutive clean sheets and an unbeaten start against two sides that finished among last season’s top three represent a significant early return for the Belles.

Nakirya’s heroics provided the headline at Lugogo, particularly her outstanding last-minute save to deny Muduwa, but the result was built on a collective effort. From Anomo and the defensive unit to Kasemire and the midfielders, St. Noa demonstrated the organisation and determination required to frustrate one of the league’s leading sides.

The Belles therefore left Lugogo with more than just a point, taking their tally to four points from two away fixtures while maintaining two consecutive clean sheets. Having beaten She Corporate and held KCCA Women FC to a goalless draw, St. Noa have made an encouraging start to their second top-flight season, showing the defensive discipline, resilience and belief needed to compete with the league’s established sides.

Finance Trust Bank FUFA WSL 2026/2027 Fixtures.

FWSL - MATCH DAY 1 FIXTURE

September 19, 2026 (1) 3 - 0 2026/2027 N/A Kawempe Muslims LFC vs Jinja United WFC
September 20, 2026 (1) 0 - 1 2026/2027 N/A She Corporate FC vs St.Noa Girls Zana FC
September 20, 2026 (1) 0 - 3 2026/2027 N/A URA Ladies FC vs KCCA WFC
September 20, 2026 (1) 1 - 0 2026/2027 N/A Makerere University vs Amus College WFC
September 20, 2026 (1) 0 - 1 2026/2027 N/A LADY DOVES FC vs Uganda Martyrs LWFC
September 20, 2026 (1) 0 - 3 2026/2027 N/A Rines SS WFC vs She Maroons FC