Vipers and Tanzania heavy weights Simba are involved in a tug-of-war for the signature of Gabon international goalkeeper Loyce Marius Mbaba, Kawowo Sports has learnt.
The 6ft highly rated custodian has been featuring for Ivorian side Stella Club d’Ajame and was part of the Gabon national team squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco early this year featuring in the game against Cameroon.
Mbaba has for long been linked with Simba, who return to the Caf Champions League next season but reports indicate that Vipers’ new head coach Denis Lavagne is a great admirer of the custodian and has asked the Venoms hierarchy to consider him.
Mbaba has over 30 caps for the Panthers and featured in several world cup qualifying matches for the 2026 edition as Gabon narrowly missed out to Ivory Coast.
Vipers’ have already announced that goalkeeper Bashir Sekagya and Congolese Alfred Mudekereza have left the club thus a need to galvanise the department.
In case the Uganda champions win the battle, Mbaba will become the first Gabonese player to sign for a Ugandan club.
Vipers are preparing for what already appears to be a tense campaign in which they have a duty to represent Uganda well in the Caf Champions League and Cecafa Kagame Cup, defend the league and reclaim the Uganda Cup.
They have already beefed up the side with Joel Sserunjogi, Nicholas Mwere and right back Jacques Mangoba from DR Congo.
