Vipers SC’s pursuit of CAF Champions League glory has once more ended in heartbreak, as a 1-1 stalemate with Zambia’s Power Dynamos at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium confirmed their exit on a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Kitende, the Ugandan champions travelled to Ndola knowing only a decisive victory would see them through. But despite flashes of determination and attacking intent, the Venoms came up short yet again on the African stage.
🚨 Five changes from Sunday
⛔️ Torach and Luyima come in
🤝 Ssebaggala partners Taddeo
⚡️ Mulongo and Usama start
🎺 Okello captains the side#TotalEnergiesCAFCL || #VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/BCz9E9tjT1— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) October 24, 2025
The hosts struck first midway through the second half, when Moses Shumah punished slack defending to slot home from close range in the 68th minute. The goal left Vipers needing two in the final stages to keep their continental hopes alive.
Karim Watambala offered a glimmer of hope in the 80th minute, lashing a stunning long-range effort into the net after a neat layoff from Usama Arafat.
The strike breathed life into the visitors’ charge, but despite late waves of pressure, Vipers couldn’t find the breakthrough that would have forced the match into a penalty shootout.
Our #TotalEnergiesCAFCL journey ends here.
Thank you for your incredible support along the way, Venoms ❤️#VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/3irg9fbRO0
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) October 24, 2025
With their Champions League adventure cut short, Vipers now turn their focus to domestic duty, defending their Uganda Premier League crown. Their only successful qualification for the group stages remains the 2022/23 campaign, a stark reminder of how elusive continental success has been.
Big dreams, harsh reality
Club president Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa has long envisioned Vipers as a consistent presence on the African scene. Yet, that ambition remains a distant dream, just one group stage appearance in recent history despite substantial investment paints a sobering picture.
The arrival of Belgian tactician Ivan Minnaert, whose résumé includes stints with Rayon Sports, AFC Leopards, Al Ittihad Tripoli, Djoliba, and Mukura, was meant to signal a turning point. Alongside him came a wave of reinforcements, Robin Kane Hney, Odili Chukwuma, Kevin Dasylva, Mark Yallah, Enock Ssebagala, Usama Arafat, and Taddeo Lwanga, a recruitment drive intended to inject quality and depth.
But the grand plan hasn’t yet borne fruit. Apart from DaSylva’s occasional flashes, the new foreign additions have struggled to make a telling impact, reigniting scrutiny over the club’s scouting and transfer strategy.
Allan Okello at Vipers SC: career, salary, market value and more
In truth, Vipers’ campaign began to unravel in Kitende, where they squandered a first-leg lead after Yunus Sentamu’s early strike, allowing Power Dynamos to turn the tide. The return leg demanded a miracle, one that, once again, never materialised.
