MATCH DETAILS

CAF Champions League – Preliminary Round (Second Leg)

Fixture: Vipers SC (1) vs African Stars FC (0)

Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende (Uganda)

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Kickoff: 7:00 PM (EAT)

First Leg Result

African Stars FC (Namibia) 0–1 Vipers SC (Uganda)

⚽ 14’ Hilary Mukundane (Vipers)

Vipers SC return to continental action this Saturday with everything to play for in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.

The Ugandan champions carry a narrow but priceless 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Cape Town, where defender Hilary ‘Bihogo’ Mukundane scored early before leading a rock-solid defensive display to secure victory against Namibian champions African Stars FC.

Now, under the bright lights of St. Mary’s Stadium – Kitende, the Venoms aim to finish the job and march into the second preliminary round of Africa’s premier club competition.

Selection Battles Heat Up

Coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert, taking charge in front of the home faithful for the first time, has promised intensity and bold choices.

His surprise calls in South Africa — handing goalkeeper Denis Kiggundu a debut start and pairing Mukundane with Kevin Dasylva Bady in central defence — underlined his belief that places must be earned, not inherited.

More changes are expected tonight as competition for starting slots intensifies. Established names like Derrick Ndahiro, Yunus Sentamu, Odili Chukwuma, Patrick Mbowa, Mark Yallah, and Isaac Ogwang are all pushing to start after missing out last week.

The trio of Allan Okello, Gusto Mulongo, and skipper Milton Karisa will be tasked with providing attacking bite, while midfield anchors Taddeo Lwanga, Enock Ssebaggala, and Karim Watambala are tipped to retain their places after bossing the first leg.

Voices from the Camp

“We expect a full house at Kitende and we know the fans will push us across the finish line,” Minnaert told the media in a press conference.

“But 1-0 is not a big advantage. We must stay focused, be offensive, and work more together.”

Skipper Milton Karisa added: “We have the advantage, but it means nothing if we don’t finish the job. We will give everything to progress in front of our fans.”

African Stars’ Challenge

Namibians, who arrived in Uganda earlier this week, are quietly confident. They trained at Kitende on Thursday and are expected to fight tooth and nail to overturn the deficit.

Having pushed Vipers hard in the first leg, they remain dangerous — especially from set-pieces.

What’s at Stake

The Venoms know that even a stalemate would be enough to send them through, but complacency could be costly.

Progression would set up a blockbuster clash against either ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) or Power Dynamos (Zambia) in the next round.

For Vipers, this is more than just a match — it’s a chance to return to the CAF Champions League group stages for the second time in club history, and to reward their passionate fans with another unforgettable continental night.