Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC are poised to launch their 2025/26 CAF Champions League journey this Friday, when they face Namibian side African Stars FC in the first preliminary round.
The Venoms, who last reached the group stages in the 2022/23 season, will be looking to secure a strong result in the opening leg at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. The return fixture is scheduled a week later at their home fortress, St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
Coach Ivan Minnaert’s squad arrived in South Africa on Wednesday, ready to hit the ground running and set the tone for their continental campaign. A successful two-leg outing against African Stars would see Vipers advance to the second round, where they would face the winner between Zambia’s Power Dynamos and Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas, a step closer to the ultimate prize: a coveted place in the group stages.
Time to have a feel of the Athlone stadium as we conduct our last training ahead of tomorrow’s match. #VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/kNHUdtGL32
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) September 18, 2025
The Ugandan champions will draw confidence from their memorable run two seasons ago, when they stunned Olympic de Bangui and TP Mazembe to reach the group phase, later sharing a pool with Raja Casablanca, Horoya AC, and Simba SC.
This season, Vipers have bolstered their squad with several new faces, including Odili Chukwuma, Taddeo Lwanga, Ashraf Mandela, Enock Ssebaggala, and Kevin Dasylva Bady, all of whom are part of the travelling contingent and could make their competitive debuts.
Vipers SC Squad in Cape Town
Goalkeepers: Alfred Mudekereza, Denis Kiggundu.
Defenders: Hilary Mukundane, Rogers Torach, Enock Luyima, Livingstone Mulondo, Derrick Ndahiro, Nico Wadada, Kevin Dasylva Bady, Ashraf Mandela.
Midfielders: Taddeo Lwanga, Enock Ssebaggala, Karim Watambala, Pedro Sukuya, Allan Okello, Patrick Mbowa.
Forwards: Mark Yallah, Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Gusto Mulongo, Odili Chukwuma, Isaac Ogwang.
Vipers SC know that every fixture counts in their quest to reclaim continental glory, and the spotlight will be on their new recruits as they seek to make an immediate impact.
