CAF Champions League 2026/27 (Preliminary Round, 1st Leg)
Vipers (Uganda) 1-1 Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
CAF Champions League football once again returned to the famous Kitende hill, off Entebbe road.
The home side Vipers Sports Club faced Mauritanian champions Nouadhibou during the first leg of the CAF Champions League, preliminary round.
After ninety minutes of enticing football played under floodlights, the score was 1-all; thanks to two first half goals from Vipers’ skipper Hilary Panuel Mukundane and Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd.
It took Vipers 2 minutes to take the lead through captain Mukundane’s header.
Abdul-Karim Watambala had a free-kick blocked by defensive wall on ten minutes.
Amadou Soumare endured a lengthy time on the turf receiving medication after a head injury.
Gusto Mulongo registered a shot off target in the 20th minute as the hosts raided more attacks to the opposition.
Nouadhibou equalized through a well taken header from Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd following a teasing corner kick delivery.
On the half hour mark, Vipers’ goalkeeper Loyce Marius Mbaba called for medication following a strained muscle.
Nouadhibou won another corner kick from captain Demine Saleck which Mohamed Said headed over
Faruku Miya had a free-kick blocked by Nouadhibou defensive wall in the home side’s last attack of the half.
As the second half returned, both sides called for a change.
Holding midfielder Marvin Joseph Youngman was rested for Vipers and he was replaced by Joel Sserunjogi.
Nouadhibou introduced Papa Malick Ndoye for their goal scorer Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd.
Three minutes into the second half, Vipers’ roving right back Ashraf Mandela had a teasing delivery that Nouadhibou cleared for a corner kick.
Nouadhibou head coach Francisco Javier Lopez Castro was booked for protesting a referee’s decision, ten minutes into the final stanza.
Miya had a shot inside the goal area cleared for a corner kick by goalkeeper Babcar Diop.
On the hour mark, Vipers introduced forward Ceaser Manzoki Lobi for Mulongo.
Moments later, Nouadhibou called for a triple change.
Kartier Dembele came on for Ahmed Ahmed, Ethmane H’Meimar replaced Abdellahi Mahoud and Mohamed Diop was introduced for Pape Fall.
Watambala had a curving corner kick pushed away by goalkeeper Babcar Diop on 69 minutes.
Nouadihbou called for a change after 72 minutes; Moulaye Mhamed Moulaye Idriss was introduced for Amadou Soumare.
Miya curled wide a free-kick from 25 yards before Yunus Junior Sentamu replaced Nigerian import Odili Chukwuma in Vipers’ other change.
With ten minutes to play, Vipers made a double subsistution.
Ashraf Mandela paved way for Jacques Mangoba Iyadi and Faruku Miya was rested for Milton Karisa.
Manzoki’s would be second goal for Vipers was disallowed by the referee.
The big Vipers’ forward had a blocked shot as they sought for a break-through that did not materialize.
There is still a lot to play for prior to the return leg in a week’s time in Mauritania.
Team line ups:
Vipers XI: Loyce Marius Mbaba (G.K), Ashraf Mandela, Nicholas Mwere, Hilary Panuel Mukundane (Captain), Bady DaSlyva, Odili Chukwuma, Faruku Miya, Gusto Mulongo (62’ Cesar Manzoki Lobi), Joseph Marvin Youngman (46’ Joel Sserunjogi), Abdu-Karim Watambala, Kiza Usama
Subs Not Used: Denis Kiggundu (G.K), Jacques Mangoba Iyadi, Derrick Ndahiro, Biweribo Tarabina, Milton Karisa, Junior Yunus Sentamu, Paul Patrick Mbowa
Head coach: Denis Lavagne (France)
Nouadhibou XI: Babcar Diop (G.K), Mamadou Salia Sacko, Mohamed Sarr, Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (46’ Papa Malick Ndoye), Amadou Soumare (72’ Moulaye Mhamed Moulaye Idriss), Pape Fall (65’ Mohamed Diop, Ahmed Ahmed (65’ Kartier Dembele), Abdellahi Mahmoud (65’ Ethmane H’Meimar), Mohamed Said, Yassin Cheikh Elwely, Demine Saleck (Captain)
Subs Not Used: Mbodj Mamoudou (G.K), Bilal Elmokhtar, Hamidou Diarra, Papa Malick Ndoye, Cheikh Hattab
Head coach: Francisco Javier Lopez Castro (Spain)
Match officials:
- Center Referee: Manuhe Woldetsadik (Ethiopia)
- 1st Assistant Referee: Tigle Gizaw Belachew (Ethiopia)
- 2nd Assistant Referee: Siraj Nurebegene Mohammed (Ethiopia)
- Fourth official: Haymanot Adane Tebeje (Ethiopia)
- Commissioner: Angesom Ogbamariam (Eritrea)
