Vipers SC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kenya’s Nairobi United in a pre-season friendly match on Saturday, August 8 at St Mary’s
The victory marked another positive step in their preparations for the upcoming CAF Champions League campaign.
Speaking in his post-match reaction, the Vipers head coach Denis Lavagne delivered a detailed assessment of a match that showcased both his side’s tactical strengths and areas requiring urgent refinement before continental action commences.
Vipers SC dominated the opening 45 minutes, dictating the tempo through crisp short passing, wide overloads, and relentless defensive pressing.
“We played a very good first half. You control the ball, you are the first on the ball when we defend, and we didn’t concede one opportunity to the opponent,” Lavagne said after the match.
The team repeatedly worked the ball into wide positions to deliver crosses into the penalty area, though missed chances prevented a wider margin of victory.
The dynamic shifted in the second period as Nairobi United pushed higher up the pitch, forcing Vipers off their rhythmic possession game.
“The second half was more difficult because the opponent pressed very high,” Lavagne noted.
“We stopped playing and stopped keeping the ball. We played long balls, and that is not our game.”
Despite Nairobi United creating two to three clear scoring opportunities during their high-press spell, the Venoms’ defensive unit remained resolute, preserving the 1-0 lead until the final whistle.
The result marks Vipers SC’s third clean sheet in four pre-season fixture preparations, having conceded goals in only one game during their current warm-up tour.
While pleased with the defensive discipline, the coach emphasised the need for sharper clinical execution in front of goal as higher-level competition approaches.
“We are strong in defence, but we need to be more efficient to finish the action better. You have the ball too much and not enough opportunities to score, so we have to create more opportunities when we have the ball.”
With pre-season preparations winding down, Vipers SC will rely on their defensive organisation and aim to sharpen their attacking efficiency ahead of their CAF Champions League fixtures.
