- CAF Champions League (1st Round, Return Leg)
- Vipers (Uganda) 0-2 Club Sportif Constantinois (Algeria)
Uganda’s representatives in the CAF Champions League Vipers Sports Club have bowed out of the competition following a heart-breaking 2-0 home loss to Algeria’s Club Sportif Constantinois at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Saturday.
The Ugandans thus lose 3-0 on aggregate having suffered a slim 1-0 loss during the first leg played at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium last week.
Two second half headed goals by Adil Djabout and Mohamed Walid Bencherifa won the game for the Algerians who would have registered a cricket score on the sunny evening.
Djabout headed home the opener in the 64th minute after an inviting corner kick by Houcine Benayada.
Six minutes later Benayada assisted Mohamed Walid Bencherifa for the second goal, an easy finish at the back post past goalkeeper Derrick Ochan.
In the first half and the opening 15 minutes of the second half, the game had remained all square with no goal.
The first stanza of the game handled by Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Amin Mohamed Omar failed to produce any goal dividend although there were chances created.
The visitors suffered a setback with a forced substitution after just 12 minutes. Mohamed Walid Bencherifa was introduced for Mounir Aichi who got injured.
Striker Daniel Sserunkuma had a shot off target from an acute angle on the left after 19 minutes.
Three minutes later, Kadour Beldjilali and his captain Sid Ali Lamri combined well in the Vipers penalty area but the Venoms’ goalkeeper Derrick Ochan was quicker off his line to thwart the move.
Vipers’ utility player Geoffrey Wasswa shot over the bar on 28 minutes after being set up by Moses Waiswa.
There was a miss for CS Constantinois on the half hour mark when forward Fouad Haddad dribbled his way into the Vipers’ penalty area. He set up Sid Ali Lamri who shot weakly to the goalkeeper Ochan.
Three minutes later, Moses Waiswa’s cross from the right was a routine collection for goalkeeper Mohamed Lofti Anis Osmani.
Ten minutes to the end of the half, Constantinois goalkeeper Mohammed Loftu Anis Osamani who was rarely tested nearly made a costly mistake by goalkeeper when his intended forward pass was intercepted by Tito Okello and Daniel Sserunkuma combined.
Wasswa had a blocked shot inside the goal area by Zaalani in the 36th minute.
With five minutes to the end of the game, Wasswa’s chip found an unmarked Okello who flipped the ball over the visitor’s goal in virtually the last goal scoring moment of the first half.
As the second half kicked off, Noah Wafula was rested for Duncan Sseninde two minutes into the final stanza.
CS Constantinois’ second change witnessed Ismail Belkacemi Abdelfetah replace Kadour Beldjilali on the hour mark.
Moments after the change, Vipers conceded the first. Midfielder Brian Nkuubi tracked back to defend a low cross by Djabout for a corner.
The in-swinging corner by Benayada was headed home by Djabout at the back post and the dead silence emitted agony.
Moments after the goal, midfielder Moses Waiswa was withdrawn for striker Abraham Ndugwa.
On the 70th minute mark, roving right back Benyada again turned provider with a telling cross from the right flank well connected home by Mohamed Walid Bencherifa.
At this moment, it was surely done and dusted, Club Sportif Constantinois had a two goal cushion and a 3-0 lead on aggregate.
Davis Kasirye was the final change for Vipers as he took over Daniel Sserunkuma’s slot in the 72nd minute.
The visitors made yet another change, their final amendment when Adil Djabout was replaced by Junior Sylla Ousmane.
Club Sportif Constantinois won 3-0 on aggregate to progress for the lucrative group stages of the CAF Champions League for the first time.
Vipers are thus relegated to the CAF Confederation Cup playoff.
Team Line-ups
Vipers XI: Derrick Ochan (G.K), Bashir Asiku, Yayo Kato Lutimba, Halid Lwaliwa, Livingstone Mulondo, Geofrey Wasswa, Brian Nkuubi Ssemakula, Moses Waiswa (66’ Abraham Ndugwa), Noah Wafula (47’ Duncan Sseninde), Daniel Muzeyi Sserunkuma (72’ Davis Kasirye), Tito Okello
Subs Not Used: Fabien Mutombora (G.K), Rahmat Ssenfuka,Ibrahim Kiyemba, Joseph Jjanjali
Head coach: Javier Martinez Espinoza (Mexico)
CS Constantine XI: Chemseddine Rahmani (G.K), Ahmed Gagaa, Islam Chahrour, Nasreddine Zaalani, Yassine Salhi, Sid Ali Lamri (Captain), Adil Djabout (83’ Junior Sylla Ousmane), Aichi Mounir (12’ Mohamed Walid Bencherifa), Kadour Beldjilali (60’ Ismail Belkacemi Abdelfetah), Fouad Haddad, Houcine Benayada
Subs Not Used: Mohamed Lofti Anis Osmani (G.K), Said Kheir Eddine Arrousi, Sofian Khadir, Mohamed Lamine Abid
Head coach: Dennis Lavana
Match Officials
- Center Referee: Amin Mohamed Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)
- First Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Abo El Regal (Egypt)
- Second Assistant Referee: Samir Gamal Saad (Egypt)
- Fourth Official: Mohamed Adel Elsaid Hussein (Egypt)
- Commissioner: Khalid Abdallah Mohamed (Tanzania)
