MATCH DAY

Competition: CAF Champions League – First Preliminary Round, Second Leg

Opponents: FC Nouadhibou vs Vipers SC

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026

Venue: Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya, Nouakchott

Kick-off: 5:00pm GMT (8pm EAT)

Vipers SC take the fight to Mauritania tonight knowing victory over FC Nouadhibou will send them into the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. 

The Venoms arrive in Nouakchott with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. 

Hilary Mukundane gave Vipers the perfect start with a second-minute header from Karim Watambala’s delivery, but Sidi Ahmed Mohamed restored parity for the Mauritanian champions in the 23rd minute. Now, everything comes down to 90 minutes in Nouakchott.

One game, one objective

Denis Lavagne’s charges know exactly what is required. 

A victory of any margin will take Vipers through. A scoring draw of 2-2 or higher will also be enough, while a 1-1 draw would send the tie to penalties. A goalless draw, meanwhile, would see Nouadhibou progress. 

The Venoms, therefore, have every incentive to be positive from the opening whistle. Vipers showed in the first leg that they can unsettle Nouadhibou, creating opportunities through sustained pressure and set-pieces.

Cesar Manzoki even thought he had delivered a late winner, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Those moments should give the Ugandan champions confidence, but the return leg will demand even greater efficiency. 

Experience must count

Captain Milton Karisa, Farouk Miya, Watambala and Manzoki are among the experienced figures expected to provide leadership as Vipers negotiate one of the most important nights of their continental campaign. 

For Manzoki, in particular, the return leg presents another opportunity to make an impact after his first-leg effort was denied. Vipers will also need defensive discipline against a Nouadhibou side playing on familiar territory and backed by its home support. 

The challenge will be to balance attacking ambition with the concentration required to protect their qualification hopes. 

The road beyond Nouakchott

The prize for the winners is a place in the second preliminary round, where either Nigeria’s Rivers United or Côte d’Ivoire’s San Pedro awaits. 

That tie is also finely balanced after a 1-1 first-leg draw, meaning Vipers know the scale of the opportunity that lies beyond Nouadhibou. 

But Lavagne’s philosophy remains simple: deal with the immediate challenge first.

The Frenchman has repeatedly stressed the importance of taking the continental campaign one step at a time, with the group stage the club’s ultimate immediate target. 

For now, however, everything is about Nouakchott. Vipers have travelled with the tie still firmly within their reach. What remains is to produce the performance, discipline and cutting edge required to finish the job.

The road to the second preliminary round runs through Nouadhibou. 

One night. One result. One step closer.