DEFENDING CHAMPIONS CRASH OUT: MOROGORO SS SEND AMUS COLLEGE PACKING IN THRILLING PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Defending champions Amus College School of Uganda have been knocked out of the East African Secondary School Games at the quarter-final stage after suffering a dramatic 2-1 penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morogoro Secondary School.
In a tense, end-to-end encounter at the Ujenzi Playground, neither side could find the breakthrough during normal time as both defences stood firm to force the tie into penalties.
The packed crowd was treated to a thrilling contest, but clear-cut chances remained hard to come by, leaving the quarter-final to be decided from 12 yards.
It was there that Morogoro Secondary School goalkeeper Ezekiel F. Ezekiel produced a remarkable performance, saving three penalties to become the hero of the hosts’ historic victory.
For Amus College, Mathias Kasadha, Roy Olara and Musa Suuna all saw their efforts denied by Ezekiel, while another Amus kick was blasted over the bar. Only Ijosiga Mudasir successfully converted for the Ugandan champions.
Morogoro also endured a difficult shootout, with Bakari Kiiko, Boniface Mkami and Stephano L. Stephano having their penalties saved by Amus goalkeeper Usama Chagamo.
Credit to USSSA
However, the hosts held their nerve when it mattered most, with Idi Jamil Rashid converting his penalty to seal a memorable victory and send Morogoro SS into the last four.
The defeat ends Amus College’s bid to retain the title and leaves the defending champions watching from the sidelines as the tournament moves into its decisive stages.
Morogoro Secondary School now become the first boys’ team to book a place in the semi-finals, while three more quarter-final ties remain.
Kyadondo SS will face Mbeya Day, CGF Kigali will take on Urambo Day, while Nsumba will battle fellow Ugandans St. Mary’s Kitende for a place in the last four.
Thursday will be a rest day, with national and cultural festivities taking centre stage before the semi-finals on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The tournament finals are scheduled for Saturday, August 22, with the official closing ceremony set to take place at Jamhuri Stadium in the heart of Morogoro City.
The East African Secondary School Games bring together teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi, with the hosts now dreaming of going all the way on home soil.