- CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round, 1stLeg
- Saturday February 11, 2017
- Vipers (Uganda) Vs Volcan de Moroni (Comoros) – Mandela National stadium, Namboole @ 4pm
- Match Officials: Center Referee: Idris Mehammed Osman (Eritrea), 1st Assistant Referee: Angesom Ogbamariam (Eritrea), 2nd Assistant Referee: Hugush Abdelkader Berhan Mehammed (Eritrea)
For only the second time in history, Vipers venture into continental football with a date against Comoros’ Volcan de Moroni.
The first time they played in a CAF club competition, it was in the CAF Champions League last year when they faced Nigeria’s Enyimba.
This time round, it’s the CAF Confederations Cup as they represent Uganda thanks to the last season’s triumph in the Uganda Cup.
Going into the game, Coach Richard Wasswa has admitted having got little knowledge about their opponents.
“We do not have enough information about our opponents (Volcan De Moroni),” he told the press but was quick to add, “All we know they are champions like us. We are ready to face them nevertheless. The last I heard of them was that they lost 4-2 this week in the Comoros cup.”
Sserumaga out
Vipers, who sit 3rd on the Uganda Premier League log after 16 matches are hit by the injury to experienced midfielder, Mike Sserumaga.
The attacking maestro, who joined the side in the window from rivals SC Villa, suffered a knock in the 2-0 win over Lweza in the league on Tuesday and the team physio, Michael Lule confirmed the game comes too early for him.
“His injury is quite serious and will need a week until he can resume training,” he told the club’s official website.
But Milton Kariisa, another recruit from the January window is available after he limped towards the end of the Entebbe Road derby.
FACTS
- It is the first time Vipers are playing in the CAF Confederations Cup while it is the second for the visitors who played in it last season.
- None of the two sides have gone beyond the preliminary round in the CAF Competitions
- Vipers have won the Uganda Cup once (2016) while Volcan de Moroni boost of four Comoros FA Cups – but both have won the domestic league twice.
Probable XI:
Ismail Watenga (GK), Nicholas Wadada ©, Dan Birikwalira, Shafik Bakaki, Halid Lwaliwa, Deus Bukenya, Keziron Kizito, Moses Waiswa, Tony Odur, Erisa Ssekisambu and Milton Karisa.
